By Farai D Hove | Despite Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo saying his safety in the UK “is guaranteed”, the Zimbabwean government has turned tables against the British government saying the Nov coup announcer was not safe at all. SB Moyo described the protest against him last Friday which included watering, as an excercise of democracy, but the government has made a u turn to call it an act of “violence.” WATCH BELOW (ARTICLE CONTINUES):

The government also said the protesters’ actions were a violation of laws of both the UK and international laws regarding the protections of person of Minister Moyo’s stature.

Zimbabwe says it has since summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland over what it labels an “assault” on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Busi Moyo and his delegation in London last week during the re-engagement programme to strengthen ties between the two countries.

It also demanded for the protesters to be charged.

Minister Moyo was on a four-day re-engagement programme to strengthen bilateral relations and to lure investors.

He also attended the Global Conference for Media Freedom.

Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador Pavelyn Musaka yesterday said Government was concerned with the incident.

A source said inexplicable laxity by security services allowed the assailants to pounce, despite top-notch security having been provided prior to the incident.

“Our Government — through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — has summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Mr Giles Enticknap, to register our Government’s protest against the assault on Minister Moyo and his Zimbabwe delegation to the Global Conference for Media Freedom co-ordinated by the government of the United Kingdom.

“As organisers of the event, it was incumbent upon the Government of the UK to assess the threat level for all dignitaries and to provide under cover security details to protect Honourable Minister Moyo in the event of any unforeseen security situations arising.

“The Ministry wishes to inform our compatriots, members of the public that while Government of Zimbabwe respects the rights to freedom and the rights of its citizens to demonstrate peacefully as part of the democratic process be it here in Zimbabwe, in the UK or any part of the world that our delegations are invited to visit whether in their official capacity or in the personal capacities it objects to the assaults on Minister Moyo as head of the Zimbabwean delegation.”

She said the protesters’ actions were a violation of laws of both the UK and international laws regarding the protections of person of Minister Moyo’s stature.

“The Ministry therefore calls for the government of UK to take all measures necessary to bring the perpetrators of the violence against the Minister to book for their actions,” she said.