Danish close embassy doors

Strained relations between the Danish and the Zimbabwean government finally came to a head on Thursday as Denmark announced it will close its embassy later this year. Ole Moesby, the Danish ambassador, told IRIN: "We have recognised that our relationship with the Zimbabwean government has not been ideal. We haven't seen any commitment to dialogue and we don't believe we could have done anything more to improve the situation in the country." Moesby refuted allegations by the state-controlled newspaper, The Herald, that the mission supported the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). "Plans to cause discontent and revolt in Zimbabwe have clandestinely been abetted using Danish and other country's financial resources. Danish agencies have funded the MDC and its voter education and other programmes," the paper said. "We are not in the business of supporting political parties. Yes, we have supported a number of organisations that are seen to be in opposition to the government's policies, but as far as engaging one particular political party it is simply not true," Moesby said. Denmark gave Zimbabwe aid worth US $8.3 million in 2001 and made more available in 2002 to complete projects already underway. Denmark had warned ahead of the elections that aid for 2002 was at stake if President Robert Mugabe unfairly held onto power. "Denmark has no real political interest in the country. Our trade relationship is not really significant and so it is probably best to pull out given the current dynamics," Moesby said. When asked about the negative impact Denmark's withdrawal of aid would have on the country, Moesby said: "When faced with the fastest declining economy in the world and climbing HIV infection rate, one needs to ask how much can one country do, especially if the government of the country doesn't appear to be interested in helping its own people." Zimbabwe is not the first Southern African country to come under fire from the Danes. The Danish embassy in Malawi earlier this year announced that Copenhagen would withdraw all its development aid to the country over allegations of corruption and political intolerance. Malawian President Bakili Muluzi lashed out at the Danes, accusing them of meddling in African politics by using their aid money to influence political trends on the continent.