President Robert Mugabe opened a new legislative year on Tuesday with a low key speech to Parliament, blaming economic problems on Britain and other Western critics of his human rights record.
”My tribute goes to the gallant people of Zimbabwe for continuing to exhibit great fortitude despite the prevailing economic challenges, which are orchestrated by the country’s detractors,” the 82-year-old head of state told legislators.
Zimbabwe is in a state of economic collapse, suffering from the world’s highest inflation rate — more than 1 000% — and shortages of all basic goods. More than four million of the 16-million population have emigrated since 2000 and millions of those left behind are dependent on aid.
The meltdown is widely blamed on the seizure of white-owned farms, which began in 2000 and has been accompanied by a clampdown on the independent press, human rights groups and political opponents.
Mugabe said that a national regulating authority will be established in the coming year to monitor electronic communications. Critics say the move will give the secret police extraordinary powers to intercept mail, e-mail, telephone or cellphone communications.
He also said that a Bill will be introduced to curb mounting incidents of domestic violence and suppress ”retrogressive traditional practices”, including wife inheritance, marriage of female children and the pledging of young girls to pay family debts.
Legislators applauded when Mugabe added: ”Such abhorrent practices also run counter to efforts to prevent the spread of the HIV and Aids epidemic.”
More than 23 % of Zimbabweans are reported to be infected, with thousands dying each week. Mugabe said the shortage of antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV will be alleviated by the establishment of a second local manufacturer.
Mugabe said recent good rains had raised hope for an ”economic turnaround” and a revival of agriculture under new black recipients of land grants. A recent government report said only 40% had occupied their farms or small-scale plots, leaving millions of hectares derelict and unproductive.
In what has become a ritual, Mugabe pinned the blame for Zimbabwe’s woes on his foreign critics.
”We note with concern the continued imposition of illegal sanctions by the European Union and the United States of America at the behest of our erstwhile colonisers,” said Mugabe, in reference to Britain.
”We feel proud that we have defeated that strategy that was aimed at the collapse of our economy and the happening of regime change.”
The US and EU have imposed travel bans and other targeted sanctions against Mugabe and members of his government. — Sapa-AP