/ 1 December 2007

Mugabe slams UK as thousands show support

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe launched a new attack on Britain on Friday after it failed to prevent him being invited to a European Union summit next month, telling London to stop interfering in its former colony. He also thanked fellow African heads of state for their diplomatic support in what he called an ''onslaught'' by Britain and its allies.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe launched a new attack on Britain on Friday after it failed to prevent him being invited to a European Union summit next month, telling London to stop interfering in its former colony.

In a speech to thousands of die-hard supporters in the capital, Harare, the 83-year-old Mugabe also thanked fellow African heads of state for their diplomatic support in what he called an ”onslaught” by Britain and its allies.

”Zimbabwe is an African country. We are totally independent from Britain. Let Britain there listen to this simple lesson that Zimbabwe is no longer a British colony,” Mugabe told several thousand veterans of the liberation war in the 1970s when Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia.

”We are no longer British territory. Britain has no right to discuss [Zimbabwe] almost every week in their stupid Parliament. Have they no sense? Has Britain ceased to have any rationality?”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would boycott next weekend’s EU-Africa summit in Lisbon after Mugabe confirmed earlier this week that he would be there.

Other states of the Southern African Regional Development Community (SADC) had threatened to stay away if Mugabe — normally the subject of an EU-wide travel ban for allegedly rigging his re-election in 2002 — was barred.

”I want to express our gratitude to our fellow members of SADC for their support of Zimbabwe in its assertion to defend its sovereignty against the onslaught that has come from Britain and its allies,” said Mugabe.

Mugabe has been a frequent critic of the regime in London but his suspicion has been increased in recent weeks by the revelation from a former British army chief that Brown’s predecessor, Tony Blair, had mulled invading Zimbabwe.

The veteran president acknowledged that the country, grappling with the impact of an annual inflation rate of nearly 8 000%, was going through a tough time.

”You value your country and no amount of hunger or suffering will make you surrender your birthright,” he told the crowds, who brought traffic to a standstill as they made their way to a football ground in Highfields high-density suburb.

Addressing guests at the gathering, which included lawmakers and government ministers, Mugabe accused multinational companies operating in Zimbabwe of colluding with his foes in the West to instigate revolt against his rule.

”They withhold products to try to make people turn against their government,” he charged, accusing some shop owners of making huge profits overnight from overcharging.

Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is seeking a sixth term next year despite presiding over the world’s highest rate of inflation and a jobless rate of about 70%.

Ruling party activists have been holding marches in towns and cities across the country declaring their support for Mugabe to stand again in presidential polls slated for March.

The leader of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans, Association (ZNLWA), organisers of the Harare march, said the turn-out was beyond their expectations.

”This shows the unity and bravery of the people of Zimbabwe to stand by their leader, regardless of the difficulties and the sanctions imposed by Western countries,” ZNLWVA chairperson Jabulani Sibanda said.

Supporters were ferried in hired buses and trains from across the country while some came in pick-up trucks and lorries.

Some of the marchers waved Zimbabwe national flags as well as banners for the ruling Zanu-PF, while others distributed car stickers which read: ”Comrade Mugabe for President 2008 election. Million men and women march.” — Sapa-AFP