Mugabe defies pressure, vows to stay on

Mugabe defies pressure, vows to stay on

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By Lindie Whiz

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe defied growing international pressure on Thursday by signalling that he could stay well beyond the June 27 presidential election runoff which has been marred by political violence.

Addressing supporters in Tsholotsho, Mugabe hinted that he would “not entertain any thoughts of relinquishing power” until he was satisfied land was “truly and safely” in the hands of the black majority.

“Vamwe vanoti iye Mugabe uyu, okungumdala lokhu akufuni kutshiya," Mugabe mocked himself as his cheering supporters fell about laughing. “Ndakasiirwa basa. Handimbofa ndakabva until land yava mumaoko enyu.”

Mugabe spoke amid growing disquiet, even among African leaders, over political violence which the opposition says has claimed the lives of 70 of its supporters, including four activists killed in a petrol bomb attack on a house in Chitungwiza on Tuesday.

"There is every sign that these elections will never be free nor fair," Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe told a news conference.

He spoke in Tanzania on behalf of a troika of nations from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) responsible for peace and security matters. Tanzania is also current chairman of the African Union.

SADC election observers saw two people shot dead in front of them on June 17, Membe said, without giving details.

Mugabe accuses his main challenger, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, of fanning violence and has threatened to arrest the opposition party’s leadership.

Rerturning to a familiar campaign theme on his campaign trail, Mugabe, 84, said he could not allow “sellouts” to assume power and mortgage the country to former colonial power, Britain.

“I don’t want to betray Umdala Wethu, Dr Joshua Nkomo, Cde Simon Muzenda, Nikita Mangena and others. That is why I am disappointed when people vote MDC. Linjani kanti bantu bakithi? Once I am sure this legacy (of returning land to the blacks) is truly in your hands, people are empowered, nyika yava mumaoko edu pasina maBritish wanting to take over the land then I can say: Aha, the work is now done,” Mugabe said.

Mugabe, a veteran of Zimbabwe’s liberation war, said the forthcoming election was an opportunity for patriotic Zimbabweans to rebuff what he said were attempts to recolonise the country by Britain, one of his fiercest international critics.

Mugabe said: “Zuva ra27 June izuva ratinosungirwa kuti titi kwete, kwete, mabhunu, kwete. Never! Never! Never again shall Zimbabwe be a colony!
“Asigcineni ilifa lethu. Tibatisise. We give the land to the people. Please let the people remain united in the land, on the land, using the land."

Mugabe has recently hinted he was willing to hand-over power to a Zanu PF ally if he wins the June 27 election.

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