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Mugabe: Blair wants me out
17/04/2007 20:14 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe accused on Tuesday archrival Tony Blair of trying to mount a final push to oust him in a speech on the eve of the ex-British colony's 27th anniversary of independence.
Speaking at a party for children, Mugabe said a two-day general strike which was called by the main union organisation earlier this month was part of "the offensive of Blair's final push".
"The man (Blair) is about to retire and wants a last push in Zimbabwe," Mugabe told hundreds of schoolchildren and teachers drawn from selected schools.
"You saw what happened two or so weeks ago. The manoeuvres he (Blair) and his allies, the evil-doers who act as his representatives here, wanted to do in what they say is a last push to make Zimbabwe a colony again."
Mugabe has launched regular broadsides against the British prime minister, who is due to stand down in a matter of weeks, ever since the West imposed sanctions against the Zimbabwean leader and his coterie in 2002.
The Zimbabwen president, who has ruled the former Rhodesia ever since independence in 1980, promised to address the concerns of the country's lowly-paid teachers who are demanding a new rise less than two months after government increased their salaries.
Mugabe calls for teacher's support
He called on the teachers to join forces with government to beat sanctions imposed on Mugabe and members of his inner circle following 2002 presidential elections which the opposition and western observers charge were rigged.
"I am suggesting that this is not a time for any loyal citizen to think of a strike for wages, but think of ways and means we can beat the sanctions and how you and us can resist the offensive of Blair's final push.
"We will continue looking at the salaries and conditions of service. Good times will come definitely. Even in bad times we will continue to look at how our people can live until a more comfortable time visits us."
Zimbabwe's economy has been on a downturn over the past seven years with world-record inflation surging towards 2 000% and chronic shortages of basic goods like cooking oil and sugar.
The majority of the population including teachers are living below the poverty threshold.
Teachers are migrating in their thousands while those who remain resort to what an analyst termed "remote-control teaching", moonlighting as small-time traders during work hours.
- AFP
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