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We are trying, says Mugabe
18/04/2008 13:18 - (SA)
Harare - President Robert Mugabe brushed off criticism on Friday over his human rights record, saying that democracy had only been established in Zimbabwe after the departure of its colonial rulers.
"Today we hear the British saying there's no democracy here, people are being oppressed, there's dictatorship, there's no observance of human rights, rule of law," Mugabe said at a rally to mark the country's 28th anniversary of independence.
"We, not the British, established democracy based on one person one vote, democracy which rejected racial or gender discrimination and observed human rights.
"We are the ones who brought democracy to this country, we are the ones who removed the oppression which was here."
In a wide-ranging speech, his first major address since the country held disputed elections on March 29, Mugabe acknowledged that the country was facing major hardships, especially over food supplies, but said his government was making efforts to alleviate the situation.
"We are not saying there's nothing we can do about our hardships. We are trying in all areas. We want the farmers to be able to produce so we have more food and less hunger - that's why we gave them tractors and other farming equipment," he said.
"We are trying even in the cities to alleviate the suffering. We know that the biggest problem is the prices," he added.
With inflation now officially standing at more than 165 000%, stores are currently increasing their prices several times a day and even the most basic foodstuffs are now scarce except on the black market.
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Zimbabwe Special Report
