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Mugabe gets rousing reception
18/04/2008 12:09 - (SA)
Harare - Thousands of cheering
supporters gave President Robert Mugabe a rousing welcome on
Friday at his first major public appearance since a
controversial election three weeks ago.
About 15 000 people, many wearing T-shirts decorated with
Mugabe's portrait, packed into a sports stadium in Highfield
township on the outskirts of Harare in a celebration of
independence from Britain 28 years ago.
Mugabe is under heavy international pressure to release the
result of a presidential election on March 29, which the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it won,
ending the veteran leader's long rule.
Mugabe's Zanu-PF party lost control of parliament for the
first time in the election, but no results have been issued yet
for the presidential poll. A partial recount of both votes is
scheduled for Saturday.
After a few days when he seemed badly wounded by the
election, Mugabe - backed by his military and hardliners in the
cabinet - has returned to his normal defiant self.
The MDC accuses him of ordering militia violence around the
country to intimidate the opposition and ensure victory in an
expected runoff against his rival Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mugabe's loyal police and military paraded in the small
Gwanzura stadium in Highfield, a restive opposition stronghold.
Large posters denounced the opposition and Britain.
"Zimbabwe no place for sell-out," and "Defending our land
from imperialists", the posters said.
One poster mocked British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and
echoed Mugabe's recent jibe calling him a "dot" in the world.
Dancers in traditional loin cloths and feather hats danced
and sang while songs dating from the liberation war led by
Mugabe blared from large speakers.
Carnival atmosphere
The carnival atmosphere contrasted with the poverty outside
the stadium where the collapse of Zimbabwe's economy has forced
residents to contend with shortages of water, food and
electricity as well as piles of uncollected garbage.
Security forces have patrolled the city's poor townships
since the elections to head off any trouble.
Both US President George W Bush and Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice on Thursday called for more action from Africa
to end the post-election deadlock in Zimbabwe, which has stoked
fears of major violence.
"More leaders in the region need to speak out and the United
Nations and the AU (African Union) must play an active role in
resolving the situation in Zimbabwe," Bush told reporters after
meeting Brown in Washington.
African reaction has been subdued to events in Zimbabwe,
although regional leaders called last weekend for the outcome to
be announced quickly.
The continent has largely taken its cue from South African
President Thabo Mbeki, who has been criticised both at home and
abroad for insisting on a softly softly diplomatic approach to
Mugabe, despite the catastrophic collapse of Zimbabwe's economy.
Zimbabwe's economy is in ruins, with hyper-inflation,
shortages of food and fuel and 80% unemployment. Millions
of people have fled to South Africa.
The Zimbabwean leader, 84, has accused the MDC of being a
puppet of Britain. He warned on Thursday that imperialist forces
were infiltrating the country and that it was in danger of being
re-colonised.
"As long as I am still on this earth, as long as I am still
breathing, the country shall never be a colony again. Never
shall this country be a British colony again," Mugabe said.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for Mbeki to be
sacked as chief regional mediator on Zimbabwe and make way for a
new initiative.
The MDC said on Thursday hundreds of supporters had been
seriously injured in attacks by Zanu-PF since the election.
- Reuters
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Zimbabwe Special Report
