Terrence Mawawa | Contrary to claims that the United Kingdom government is tipping President Emmerson Mnangagwa to win the coming elections, officials from that country’ s embassy have said Britain is concerned with human rights and democracy issues in Zimbabwe.

As such the British Embassy in Zimbabwe has sought to distance itself from allegations that it is tipping Mnangagwa to win the 2018 harmonised elections.

This comes after Professor Welshman Ncube, the spokesperson for the coalition MDC Alliance attacked British and China for seemingly backing Mnangagwa.

Said Ncube, “We think it is inappropriate for the British and the Chinese to pick a horse in this election.

They should instead, insist on the holding of free and fair elections in line with international norms and standards.”

Responding to the allegations, Simon Thomas, the Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in Harare said his country did not care about who would win the polls.

Writing on microblogging site Twitter, Thomas said:

“This simply isn’t true. Let me be clear: no throwing our weight, no backing horses.

We don’t care WHO wins. We care a lot HOW they win. And we’ll continue to press all sides for a free and fair election.”

A daily newspaper reported that Zimbabwe’s upcoming general elections could have divided world leaders’ opinion, with Britain and China throwing their weight behind Mnangagwa’s candidature at a time the United States has remained sceptical of the Zanu PF leader- keeping a soft spot on the youthful MDC-T presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa.

British Ambassador to Harare, Catriona Laing last week claimed that London and Harare were now “in a better place” than they were before former President Robert Mugabe’s ouster last November.

The British envoy also said Mugabe’s removal presented a fresh start for the two countries, adding Zimbabwe should seize the opportunity for the next round of meetings with the International Monetary Fund to set its plan “up to the elections and beyond”.

“So I think we are in a better place . . . if we continue to see progress, then I hope that we will be able to move to the next stage and get to a point where Zimbabwe and Britain have full normal investment and trading relations.

Then we can work together in fora like the United Nations and ensure that Zimbabwe plays its role as a good global citizen,” she said.