[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Zimbabwe President Bob (Muggsy) Mugabe will retaliate if European Union (EU) countries heed advice from his rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to expel diplomats that the veteran ruler appointed unilaterally.
President Mugabe and the PM are at loggerheads over several key appointments and the impasse is now threatening the inclusive government formed in February last year.
Last week, Mr Tsvangirai wrote to the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society, the EU and some European countries asking them not to recognise the envoys.
While the UN has made it clear that it cannot throw out the ambassadors, the EU has demanded an explanation from Mr Mugabe and the block may soon take action.
But the president's front man Mr George Charamba on Monday said Harare would reserve the right to reciprocate if its diplomats were thrown out of their postings.
"In diplomacy there is a principle called reciprocity," Mr Charamba told NewsDay, a privately owned paper. "You do to the other country what you want them to do unto you.
"If country A refuses to recognise ambassadors from country B then country B reserves the right to do the same." He said Zimbabwe was not benefiting from the presence of Western diplomats because of sanctions. The EU has maintained targeted sanctions against President Mugabe and his inner circle since 2002 citing abuse of human rights
... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you...
and electoral fraud.