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Mugabe thanks SA
18/04/2008 15:43  - (SA)  

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  • Harare - In his first major address since last month's disputed elections Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe vowed on Friday that former colonial power Britain and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would never "steal" his country.

    Mugabe was addressing thousands of people attending a rally in a Harare stadium on the 28th anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence from Britain. It has been three weeks since the elections but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has yet to release the results of the presidential poll.

    Speaking for over an hour, mostly off the cuff, the 84-year-old leader warned: "You want the British to come back again? You saw what they did when they heard that the MDC was winning.

    "The whites in the UK, Australia and South Africa started coming in and some are still here in the hotels," he said, apparently referring to white farmers who were evicted from their land by ruling party members and cronies since 2000.

    "That (land being returned to white farmers) will never ever happen," he vowed. "Down with the British. Down with thieves who want to steal our country."

    'More subtle tactics'

    "Beware. Be vigilant in the face of the vicious machinations of Britain and its other allies," Mugabe said. "Yesterday they ruled by brute force. Today they have perfected their tactics to be more subtle. They are literally buying people to turn against the government. We are being bought like sheep because they have money and because we are suffering."

    Some white farmers, Mugabe alleged, had erected checkpoints on the land where they used to farm, "provoking" the so-called war veterans.

    Groups of war veterans have chased dozens of white farmers off their land and beaten up and chased away scores of black farm workers since the elections.

    The Zimbabwean president also thanked southern African leaders and South Africa in particular for the role it has played since the elections.

    The few passages in English included thanks to southern African leaders "for clearly articulating our case over the ... elections."

    SA's 'special role'

    "I want to thank South Africa in a special way for the role it has played in brokering our dialogue."

    Mugabe's defiant address came a day before ZEC undertakes a partial recount of the votes cast in the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections.

    MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai claims he defeated Mugabe squarely. Mugabe's Zanu-PF party claims neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe won outright and that a runoff is required. An independent electoral observation NGO also predicted neither took more than 50% at the first round but had Tsvangirai very close.

    The MDC opposes both the run-off and recount.

    Tsvangirai claimed in a BBC interview on Thursday the two parties had been close to a deal that would have ended Mugabe's autocratic and economically disastrous rule a few days after the election but that some "establishment" elements scuppered it.

    Men, youths beaten up

    Earlier Zimbabwean soldiers went house to house in the low-income Harare suburb of Glenview, beating up men and youths, in what one witness claimed was revenge for an assault on a soldier living in the area earlier in the week. On the streets the police presence was heavy.

    Several newspapers have reported that hardliners in the security forces opposed Mugabe stepping down and are now effectively running the country.

    A ship carrying arms from China destined for Zimbabwe has been sitting outside South Africa's Durban harbour for days.

    Dock workers have refused to off-load the shipment saying that they disagree ideologically with a government decision to allow the arms be transported by road through South Africa to Zimbabwe. -Sapa-dpa and AP

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      Zimbabwe
    18/04/2008 16:16
    The first paragraph in the above article explains exactly what is happening in Zimbabwe. Mugabe believes that he owns the country when he talks about people "stealing" HIS country. Until he accepts that the country is owned by all the people of the country the crisis will continue. - Alan
     
      ANC government laughing stock
    18/04/2008 16:23
    The international community thinks of the ANC as laughing stock like the NP of old. Thanks Mbeki! - Henri
     
      Zimbabwe
    18/04/2008 16:30
    Truly tragic if the ppl of Zim believe this absolute drivle, only ray of hope is the dock workers refusing to unload those containers Viva to you, true patriots of Africa, wish I could buy you all a beer. I work in the DRC and have seen the destruction of the AK in the hands of desperate despots, cry my beloved Africa, I will pray for you ppl of Zim - Mike
     
      Nice
    18/04/2008 16:31
    "I want to thank South Africa in a special way for the role it has played in brokering our dialogue." - This is HUMILIATING for South Africa coming from this man. Damn Mbeki. I was watching Question Time on BBC last night in the UK, where they were having a good go at SA, our reputation is shot! - Jono
     
      Mugabe
    18/04/2008 16:32
    "...because we are suffering"?? The people are suffering not him. And he doesn't care at all cuz he's living in a mansion. The country is in turmoil and he wants someone to blame. - Thabom
     
      What about the Chinese, Rob?
    18/04/2008 16:33
    What about the chinese people flocking to your country? Why dont you tell your people about the fact that you are promising them land and business opportunities! In return the give you arms and military support! Blame the "whites" all you want, you just want to take the eye off the new chinese imperialists that promise you protection! I am ashamed that Mbeki acts like your partner in this inhumane story of African dictatorship. - Frank
     
      Zim
    18/04/2008 16:36
    Idi Amin has resurrected. - A 2 Z
     
      Zimbabwe and Mugabe
    18/04/2008 16:36
    I found it very strange when Mugabe alleges that whites are after his Zimbabwe. How dare he claims to own a country? What is this 'special role' played by SA? The Mbeki's 'No crisis' It's all nonsense! Mugabe please do the honourable thing and give space to young, energetic and future leaders who are determined to take Zimbabwe to greater heights!Remember you don't own a country and your time is up! - McMillan
     
      ZIM
    18/04/2008 16:37
    Alan,,,,,you must be British settling in South Africa. What Mugabe says it makes sense to me as a black South African and it is excatly what is gonna happen if this puppert wins the elections. - Khaukanani
     
      We need Bob to keep 'running' Zim....
    18/04/2008 16:40
    ....so that the world can clearly see what despots do. AND who supports them. MeGrabbe and MeBegge - two peas in a pod.The one takes while the other begs. Let the world finally learn..... - Walt
     
      Well done!!!
    18/04/2008 16:42
    South Africa has acted as a co-conspirator in the destruction of Zimbabwe. The starving, tortured, raped and dispossessed of Zimbabwe must also feel deeply indebted to the South African government for being such a good old pal to Mugabe. Well done Thabo! - Richard
     
      Embarrassed
    18/04/2008 16:44
    So now thanks to Mbeki and the ANC clowns every single South African should feel embarressed. If not for aparthied then definately for this. It is not hard to understand why Africa is so insignificant to the rest of the world. - Tank
     
      Jon Q
    18/04/2008 16:45
    Didnt he write an article defending this guy? similar interests indeed.... - Ryan van Wyk
     
      Incorrect choice of words
    18/04/2008 16:45
    I think that the ?Thank-you?, addressed to South Africa, should rather have been directly addressed to Mbeki. How embarrassing that we, as a country, are being affiliated and aligned with this thug. - Kerry
     
      crisis in zim
    18/04/2008 16:46
    i think the united nations must act quickly becoz there will be a big war in zim.already mugabe has started buying arms from china clearly he is prepared to fight. - PROMISE NOKWAZI TSHABANGU
     
      Arms Shipment
    18/04/2008 16:47
    Wow, if the part about the dock workers refusing to off load the weapons is true, it is very encouraging. Change for the better, for both Zim and SA, will only happen when change happens for each person individually. And for small groups, like these dock workers. Well done! - ramone
     
      Mugabe - Modern day Hitler
    18/04/2008 16:55
    It is amazing how the world can stand by and witness a modern day Hitler. He has driven Zim down the proverbial drain and still get support from leaders , who witnessed true democracy in our country. May God intervene and save the innocent people in Zimbabwe. - Colin
     
      Mugabe is not mad
    18/04/2008 16:56
    I totally agree with Mugabe over his anti British statements. Britain are the worst nation on this earth. The queen and that disgusting bunch of elitist scum are busy destroying the whole earth. Why do they care so much about Zim?? They never gave the farms they stole in SA from the Boers during the SA war back to them. My family farm was taken and sold to a British farmer for almost nothing. So screw all the British farmers in Zim. Long live Mugabe - Fanus
     
      Racist Bob
    18/04/2008 17:05
    This supports the fear every right minded person should have that Mbeki is pushing SA with his ANC towards the exact position where Zimbabwe is now. Is Zuma the answer though? I wonder, worrying about the ubuntu message the ANC propagate in the way they deal with Bob. Hopefully sanity will prevail and SA won?t move towards the Zimbabwe position in the blink of your eye. And the arms shipment from China could be the start of something we all have been praying will not happen - PFS in UK
     
      Saviour Mugabe
    18/04/2008 17:12
    I think Mugabe sees himself as the saviour of Zimbabwe from colonial rule, and now as the protector as well. I think he believes what he does is noble and in the interest of his country. It is a pity that his obesession as saviour and protector has blinded him from the reality and plight of his own people he saved and now try to 'protect'. - andre
     
      I wouldn't show my face after being thanked by Mugabe!
    18/04/2008 17:12
    If Mugabe or any other murderous dictator thanked me I would only walk around in public with a paper bag over my head! Mbeki is a criminal! He is "aiding and abetting" a villian! - Justin Shein
     
      Absolute cr@p
    18/04/2008 17:15
    Khaukanani, Fanus, what are you smoking when you are not writing absolute cr@p? Something you should accept in the current global world is that healthy economies rule the world, give people food to eat and money in their pockets to spend. And that is what Zim and SA need. If someone else owns half the county's economy and supply food, work etc, you must be mad as Bob if you do not want that. And no, I come from SA and still is a proud SAfa, regardless of where in the world I live. - PFS in UK
     
      Embarrased
    18/04/2008 17:19
    Today I am embarrassed to be south african. It is only the SA government who backs mugabe but not the SA population. Are our goverment not meant to represent our wishes? I dont need mugabes thanks - Pete
     
      Mugabe is not mad????
    18/04/2008 17:22
    O ja and Fanus, have you ever lived outside of SA's borders in an African or European country? If you have then you must be on pot or something. If not, shut the trap; get to know the world and blog further, sensibly. The UK has the same number of problems every other country have, but they have been the dominant leader in the western world in spreading western civilization to every corner of the world. What happened in the Anglo Boer war cannot be condoned but if you use that in an argument for Bob, you must be high on something. - PFS in UK
     
      Zim crisis!
    18/04/2008 17:24
    I think the situation in Zim requires some spiritual intervetion for political leaders have just proved to be too junoir for the task! Eric Mawelewele - Eric Mawelewele
     
      Dictator
    18/04/2008 17:25
    People, please remember, never ever in the history of the world, a dictator removed himself from power. Even if somebody wins the election 10 to 1, he will cling to power and can only be removed forcefully. Five years ago, a guy from zim told me that TM and Bob are shareholders in goldmines in Zim. Now that I see how TM is defending him, I start to believe the story. - NCL
     
      To Khaukanani
    18/04/2008 17:32
    Khaukanani, please put your money where your mouth is and go and live in Zimbabwe, if Mugabe makes so much sense to you. And Fanus, you too, please. - Jaco
     
      South Africa-Zimbabwe: The Genocide Soccer World Cup.
    18/04/2008 17:36
    In 2007, Zimbabweans spent over USA $ 2,2-billion in the South African economy, making them the biggest spenders in that economy and this has not gone unnoticed by the South African government which for the obvious selfish reason would like to keep Zimbabweans as beggars in South Africa. For details refer to: www.indabanews.com/indaba0033.php - Mbeki must go too
     
      Mugabe
    18/04/2008 17:41
    This is perhaps the saddest day in Africa. Looks like Thabo and Bob are going to pull off what must be an incredible coup.I wonder how Mugabe claims to be non racist when everything "white" receives particularly venomous hate speech. Maybe this is Hitler and Goebels re incarnation !!! - Mark Hansell
     
      Evil Possession ? The only way I can explain Mugabe
    18/04/2008 17:46
    Like Hitler, Bob Mugabe is possibly possessed by an evil demon that is causing criminal and evil temperament to take control of people. With a dynamic leadership position and the ability to lead people down the wrong path easily, we must look deeper and perhaps ask, ?Is this Mugabe acting, or has his soul been lost to an evil spirit?? Many similar questions were asked about Hitler. He acted in a manner that led to millions of people suffering and dying. Something Mugabe has also achieved. Sorry Fanus, but is was Britain that stood up to this and ensured that he did not take over the world. Once again, it is Britain that is leading the questioning into why Mugabe is allowed to continue. It is our Queen that continues to show her support for, not her people, but for any society that falls under the dictatorial rule of mad men. You refer to the Boer War and the wrongs done to your people. Should we not look further into history and see what your people did to the native people of Africa. A similar situation. Their land was taken from them by your people and never given back ? and your people still claim it as theirs. So, in answer to your ?So screw all the British farmers in Zim. Long live Mugabe? I say, long live those that defy dictatorial rulers, long live societies that strive to learn from the past and not dwell on it, long live the people that will fight for justice and not live with the principle of ?the enemy of my enemy is my friend?, and finally, may those societies that continue to blame others for their short fallings finally dwindle and be forgotten. - Greg Forbes
     
      Mugabe
    18/04/2008 17:48
    NCL, this is common knowledge....also interests in the Congo ... hence the presence of Zim army - Mark Hansell
     
      Mugabe
    18/04/2008 17:49
    If this is not recist speec, I dont know what is....it so easy to blame the white man......why are earth would England want to re-colonize zim ??? There is nothing there !!!! Pathetic, cant this guy just move on to a better place and put us all out of our misery !! - Sadness
     
      the Devil fights hards
    18/04/2008 17:55
    Has anyone ever seen the devil just give up....Unless we all stand together and pray for God to intervene... - shaun
     
      Cheater and Fraudster !!!
    18/04/2008 18:09
    If mugabe had won, the results would of been released long ago....HE LOST !!!! 2. Notes 1st. "Mr" mugabe do your country and the African continent a favour and leave!!! 2nd. If Zim had petrol the USA would of intervened long ago..... Question: Where are the United Nations? Defenders of human rights? Get off your asses and do some work for a change!!!!! - Joe Black
     
         
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