Some African leaders cowards - Mugabe
2012-02-21 12:00
Special Report
A classical music presenter for the BBC has been arrested and is in custody in Zimbabwe.
Cape Town – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has branded some African leaders cowards who are prepared to sell out their countries for financial aid and material benefits, the country’s state media reported on Tuesday.
According to Herald online, Mugabe said the current crop of leaders was different from revolutionaries who fought for Africa’s independence.
"Not only have they become cowards, but have become sell-outs of our own people. Betraying, betraying the nations of Africa. That's that AU thing. They just think of money, money, money. Material things!
"If I speak against Britain and Britain is paying part of my budget, it is providing money I need for my hospitals, where shall I get this money?
"If I talk against France and I need French money to pay soldiers, to pay my civil servants, ah, where shall I get the money? That’s the consideration.
"You go and kneel before Sarkozy, you go and kneel before David Cameron, kneel before Obama and say yes we shall do all you want us to do.
"All these leaders, and when you are kneeling, you are making your nation kneel before these young imperialists."
Mugabe said some African leaders were in danger of youths turning against them "when they know more about their history under colonialism".
"Youngsters who get educated and see that oh no, the parents are still living the primitive lives of the past will not stand for it.
"Those with brains, with real knowledge of what happened in the past and they will always be, of course, a few of these and they will learn the lessons."
- News24