Trudy Stevenson Quits MDC

Lottie Gertrude “Trudy” Stevenson who was appointed as Zimbabwean Ambassador to Senegal in 2009 during the GNU has said she is no longer a member of the MDC led by Welshman Ncube but a diplomat. Trudy disclosed this during an interview with Daily News news editor Gift Phiri.

She said she continues to serve under President Emmerson Mnangagwa because he is the president of Zimbabwe. Below is an excerpt of the interview:

Q: In 2009 at the advent of the GNU, you were appointed as Zimbabwean ambassador there. You continued to serve as ambassador to Senegal and the Gambia after the end of the inclusive government, under Robert Mugabe’s government. Why?

A: Yes, I was appointed ambassador under the inclusive government, by former president Mugabe. When one becomes a diplomat, one becomes apolitical — or should do so.  So you promote your country, and the interests of all its citizens, not only those of one particular party. When the inclusive government ended, Mugabe felt that I was doing a good job as ambassador, so he kept me on — and now the new President Mnangagwa, apparently also thinks I am serving Zimbabwe well as our ambassador in Senegal, The Gambia and generally in French-speaking West Africa.  Most Zimbabweans are not aware that I speak French fluently — so this is a big advantage to us, in a French-speaking region. It’s a good idea to use people’s skills where they are most useful — human resource management, indeed.

Q: Before your deployment, you served as MDC’s national secretary for Policy and Research for both the original MDC and in a smaller faction of the MDC. Are you still a member of the MDC or you have defected to the ruling Zanu PF? 

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A: I am no longer a member of any political party. I am a diplomat.

Q: You continue to serve under the Mnangagwa regime. Why?

A: I continue to serve under Mnangagwa because he is the president of my country, and I am his representative in Senegal and The Gambia. The Presidency is an institution, not a person.  While some countries recall all their ambassadors on change of president, this is not the case for Zimbabwe. Nor, interestingly, was it the case for Donald Trump, even though there was a big brouhaha at the time!

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