Africa News
Mugabe rules out change of power in his lifetime (Roundup)
Jun 14, 2008, 14:27 GMT
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe addresses a youth convention in Harare, Zimbabwe, 13 June 2008. EPA/STR
Johannesburg/Harare - With less than two weeks to go before an election run-off for the highest office in the land, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Saturday ruled out a change of power in his lifetime.
Mugabe dismissed the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, saying: 'These pathetic puppets taking over this country? Let's see. That is not going to happen.'
'We are are prepared to fight for it (Zimbabwe),' he told mourners at the funeral of a senior army officer and independence war veteran at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Mugabe has previously often threatened the opposition with armed resistance from war veterans who fought British rule.
The 84-year-old, in power since 1980, is intensifying his campaign of intimidation, harassment and violence against the opposition leaders and supporters.
A presidential election run-off between Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is scheduled for June 27.
Tsvangirai, along with 11 members of his presidential election campaign, was again detained by police on Saturday, MDC officials said.
The 12 were stopped at a roadblock just outside the town of Shurugwi in the south of the country, party spokesman Nqobizitha Mlilo was quoted as saying by South Africa's Sapa news agency.
They were taken to Shurugwi police station but released about three hours later, according to party officials.
'This is just total harassment. They want us to spend more time in police cells or in detention instead of meeting the people,' Tsvangirai's spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.
Police have detained Tsvangirai on at least four previous occasions in the last two weeks, holding him for several hours before releasing him without explanation or charge.
On Thursday, Tsvangirai was detained twice, first in the nearby town Kwekwe and later in the nearby central city of Gweru, where he had been campaigning.
Tsvangirai's deputy, Tendai Biti, meanwhile, appeared Saturday, handcuffed and in leg irons, before a judge in Harare.
The outspoken MDC secretary general was arrested at Harare International Airport on his return Thursday after spending two months abroad in the wake of Zimbabwe's disputed general elections in March.
His whereabouts were not known a day after his arrest on Friday.
Police accuse Biti of treason - a charge that carries the death penalty on conviction - for among others allegedly illegally distributing election results.
Biti had tried to mobilize political support against the suppression of the opposition in ongoing campaigning ahead of the run-off.
MDC member of parliament Eric Matinenga, who was arrested last week, remained in police custody Saturday, with his lawyer saying he was remanded in custody until June 26.
Matinenga is accused of inciting violence in his rural constituency of Buhere, 200 kilometres south-east of Harare.
The MDC won a majority in parliamentary elections on March 29, while Tsvangirai was accorded more votes in the simultaneous presidential election, although he failed to win more than 50 per cent which he needed to avoid fighting a run-off and to be declared outright winner.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Africa
- 1. Several dead in car bombing in northern Nigeria
- 2. Mogadishu blast kills seven, including sports chiefs
- 3. Seven dead in Mogadishu suicide bomb attack
- 4. ANC suspends Youth League leader with immediate effect
- 5. Police arrest Uganda's opposition leader and others at protest march
Older Talkback
page: 1
using white people as an excuse to exploit Afica is the statement of allmost all the dictators of africa. Only tepid responce from the surounding countries. went to a bar last nite and bumped into a tanzanian, he was so fustrated in the lack of African goverments to uplift the lives of the average people. He says the leaders hiding behind the colonial excuse gives them cart blanche on doing anything they want.
meanwhile china and india(a former colony, by the way) are speeding ahead economicly.....what is so hard for the leaders of africa to understand, are they so freakin thick headed that they cant see bruatlity when it happens next door. The UN sits...South Afica sits...meanwhile Mugabe remains, regardless to the wims of the people. Sad Sad Sad.
Charge Mugabe with human rights crimes and the persecution of his people.
Hey SP4 why should I post here,nobody is defending him,pretty obvious isn't it ?As if I would ever condone a dictor like you do,human rights are universal my friend ,there are no countries nor army bases anywhere in the world where they shoulod be abused,,is that any help ?
Well stated, Sir.
Tonny's post:
Hey SP4 why should I post here,nobody is defending him,pretty obvious isn't it ?
sp4 - Well, you pick the slightest infraction of any US action, particualrly when we are trying to free millions from similar bonds that also enslave the Zimbabwians, but, here we have a blunt instrument of oppression, in plain view, oppressing his people and we get not a single comment from the worlds foremost Belgian metermaid. I think libnazis love dictators because, they can enforce their will without democracy, whichliberals love to do. This is why your vaunted friends like Gore and Moore parade around with the likes of Castro or Jimmy Carter and his enabling of Hugo, Chavez, or Hamas.
As if I would ever condone a dictor like you do,human rights are universal my friend ,there are no countries nor army bases anywhere in the world where they shoulod be abused
SP4- Then why not a single comment on his brutal regime??? Why not one simple expression of outrage? No, I am skeptical of your real views. I think that, unless it is the USA, you are happy to look the other way. In your mind, supported by previous posts, you would rather let this slide than confront it, which I point out.
,,is that any help ?
SP4- not really, but it sure is very predictable.
to: Tonny from BelgiumJun 15th, 2008 - 17:19:20
Well stated, Sir.
SP4- well stated, well, I'd have to debate that...
Mugabe has provided everyone with the answer to this connundrum...'not in his lifetime'. This can be arranged...hopefully, his fellow citizens will vote with their machetes and remove this monster.
doesn't have the brains to debate anything.
page: 1
SP4: There you have it!Jun 14th, 2008 - 16:10:51
and not a comment from a Tonny or any of the other libnazis...
Report this comment