Staying power: President Robert Mugabe has joked about previous reports of his death
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has issued a strong warning to opposition parties and social movements who are calling for his resignation, saying there would be no foreign intervention against his regime, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported on Monday.
Speaking at the 103rd ruling Zanu-PF party central committee meeting, Mugabe described the ongoing protests in the southern African country as a nuisance that would be dealt with harshly.
The long-time leader further warned that opposition parties and the pressure groups that were calling for his resignation should not cry foul when his government reiterated with a strong hand.
“The demonstrations that we have witnessed in the last few weeks were not by accident of history, but were purposefully choreographed and launched in the mistaken belief that the time was ripe for a popular uprising against government.
“Let the opposition parties know and all those angling for chaos, mayhem and violent demonstration be warned that our patience has run out. Government will take very strong measures against any political party, organisation or individual that perpetrates violent demonstration,” Mugabe was quoted saying.
Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests in the past weeks, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of Mugabe.
Mugabe has been in power since 1980 when the country won independence.
The veteran leader recently claimed that opposition parties were working with the West, particularly the US and UK governments, to force him out of office through violent protests.
The long-time ruler further claimed that there was a broad opposition agenda funded by the West to destabilise southern Africa.
“Their masters are providing huge sums of cash to provoke conflict and instability in the region. Their aim is to replace liberation movements with pliant puppet regimes that pander to their needs because they have realised our people-oriented policies are a threat to their economic interests,” Mugabe was cited as saying at the time. – News 24