/ 12 August 2013

‘Go hang,’ says Mugabe to election critics

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

The 89-year-old vowed never to let go of his victory as his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai lodged a petition in court challenging the election outcome.

"Those who were hurt by defeat can go hang if they so wish," Mugabe told thousands at a rally to honour heroes of the country's liberation wars.

"Never will we go back on our victory."

Mugabe was declared winner of the July 31 election with 61% of the vote against Tsvangirai's 34%.

Tsvangirai's lawyers on Friday filed a petition at the Constitutional Court challenging the vote, which extended Mugabe's 33-year rule by another five years.

"We are delivering democracy on a platter. We say take it or leave it, but the people have delivered democracy," Mugabe said.

'Commit suicide'
Mugabe also said that if critics could not accept the official election results "you can commit suicide".

He called on his rivals as well as Western nations to accept the results.

"Those who can't stomach the defeat, you can commit suicide," Mugabe said. – AFP, Sapa-dpa