Mandelson, a former British cabinet minister, visited Harare in mid-February this year and held a meeting with Finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa, together with London’s ambassador, Catriona Laing.
In July, Chinamasa flew to London with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, John Mangudya, and other senior government to woo financial aid to repay the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Lazard, an international financial institution where Mandelson is a chairperson, provisionally pledged to release some one billion dollars towards offsetting the IMF arrears.
The news generated anger among British legislators, human rights defenders and local opposition political parties who accused Britain of playing a role in funding President Robert Mugabe’s government which is accused of human rights abuses and corruption.
In a statement on Monday, the British embassy in Harare said reports that followed Mandelson’s meeting with Chinamasa were fraught with inaccuracies (https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/lord-mandelsons-visit-to-zimbabwe).
The embassy said Mandelson went to Harare as an extension of a private visit to South Africa, after offering to help in enhancing Zimbabwe’s economic reforms.
“Lord Mandelson visited Zimbabwe as an extension of a private visit in South Africa. Lord Mandelson asked the Foreign & Commonwealth Office if he could be of assistance in promoting UK government objectives in Zimbabwe.
“Given Lord Mandelson’s experience as a senior UK minister and European Union Commissioner for Trade, we agreed he could help reinforce the case for economic reform with the Government of Zimbabwe,” said the embassy.