Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa is set to face tough questions and protests during her upcoming visit to the UK. Human rights activists are planning to demonstrate outside the First Ladies of African Impact and Resilience (FLAIR) summit, where she will be speaking. The activists are criticizing her husband’s government’s human rights record and the detention of journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who has been held for nearly two months without bail.

Lord Johnny Oates has also spoken out, urging British lawmakers to hold Auxillia accountable for Mhlanga’s detention and Zimbabwe’s media freedom issues. He highlighted the country’s history of intimidating and silencing journalists, citing attacks on printing presses and the murder of journalists.

With Zimbabwe already facing international scrutiny, Auxillia’s visit may further strain the country’s relations with the West. The country remains suspended from the Commonwealth due to persistent human rights abuses. The protests and criticism could overshadow her charity work and put the spotlight on the country’s human rights concerns.

Zimbabwean rights groups in the diaspora are mobilizing to ensure their voices are heard, with plans for placards and rallies calling for Mhlanga’s immediate release and a return to democratic values in Zimbabwe. As Auxillia prepares to travel to the UK, the trip is set to test not just her international standing, but also Zimbabwe’s increasingly strained relations with the West.

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