London - The father of Chelsy Davy, the South African girlfriend of Britain's Prince Harry, on Saturday rejected allegations that he is helping to sustain President Robert Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe.
Charles Davy, a safari operator in Zimbabwe, gave a rare interview to The Daily Telegraph to defend his business ties with Webster Shamu, a lawmaker from Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
Davy's blonde 19-year-old daughter Chelsy, a Cape Town university student, is going out with Harry, 20, third in line to the British throne and in training to become an army officer.
Shamu, a minister in Mugabe's office charged with policy implementation, is on a list of 95 Zimbabweans barred from entering the European Union. He also runs Famba Safari Company, in which Davy, along with another partner, holds a 50 percent stake.
"I am in business with Mr Shamu and have been for five years," said Davy, whose safari ranch in Zimbabwe covers 3 367 square kilometres.
"We have an excellent and honest business partnership. Why should this change? I am in business, not politics."
"I am in partnership with a person who I personally like and get along with," Davy added.
"I am not involved in politics in any way, but I reserve my right of association, as any person should, and I really do not see that the leaders of any political party have the right to choose my friends or business associates."
The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) told the Daily Telegraph that Davy's links with Shamu meant he was sustaining Mugabe's government and that he should therefore be added to the EU's blacklist.
"If people like Charles Davy are indirectly involved in businesses with the regime, they... should be included on the list," MDC secretary-general Welshman Ncube said.