Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned to work on Monday after a visit to China yielded a few agreements but fell way short of an expected rescue package for his country, and remained defiant of Western criticism of his regime.
On arriving home, the 81-year-old leader shrugged off global pressure over his government’s urban demolition blitz, which has left about 700 000 people homeless, telling the West to ”keep your distance”.
Zimbabwe faces expulsion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) unless it pays back a $300-million debt, amid shortages of basic commodities and United Nations accusations that the demolition drive fuelled a humanitarian crisis.
”Zimbabwe will always resist any interference in its domestic affairs,” Mugabe said.
Bill Saidi, a social commentator, said Mugabe had expected ”some real rescue package” during his visit to China last week.
But although he was very warmly received, he returned home with a few cooperation agreements on the expansion of hydroelectric power stations, the reopening of collapsed copper mines and a pact to establish new coal mines.
China also agreed to supply trains and rehabilitate Zimbabwe’s rail network, apart from pledging food relief for millions of Zimbabweans who face hunger due to poor crops.
”He obviously was hoping that the Chinese would come to his aid because of his openly anti-West position, but he misunderstood them, the Chinese are trading with the West. So, to some extent they are indebted to the West,” said Saidi.
Mugabe, who has been shunned by the West in recent years over rights and governance issues, has assiduously courted Asia, describing China as ”our greatest friend outside Africa”.
The United States and New Zealand voiced concern over China’s invitation to Mugabe, which coincided with a damning UN report over a state-run drive to demolish illegal shacks and shops in urban areas.
The report criticised the government’s demolition campaign, saying it rendered at least 700 000 people homeless and left another 2,4-million affected.
Irked by the report, Mugabe invited UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to Zimbabwe to assess the impact of demolition campaign.
”I … extended an invitation to the secretary general of the United Nations to come and see for himself what demolitions we have done and why we have done that, that’s the area for which I invited him,” said Mugabe.
”I never said he should come and superintend over our political relations with the MDC [opposition Movement for Democratic Change party],” he said on Sunday.
Mugabe vowed he will not ”succumb” to pressure to enter into dialogue with the MDC.
”Anyone who seeks to foster relations with the MDC will be going against our democratic principles and we shall resist,” he said.
”We can never do that [take on the MDC into the government], we shall never do that … and no one has the right to want to dictate to us that we accommodate the MDC,” he said.
Meanwhile, southern neighbour South Africa is continuing talks with Zimbabwe on a possible bail-out deal that would prevent Harare’s expulsion from the IMF.
”Consultations are continuing,” South African government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said. ”The matter will probably be resolved before the point at which the IMF would have to make its decision.”
Saidi said while Mugabe has turned eastwards, he has little option but to mend fences with the West to avoid a further economic slide.
”It’s shameful for a man, proud as he is, to have to go with a bowl in his hand to South Africa,” said Saidi.
”I think his only option now is to swallow his pride and get back to terms with the international community.” — Sapa-AFP