More Mugabe Madness
Zimbabwe's President Threatens Critics
By MICHAEL HARTNACK
The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 18, 2006; 4:43 PM
HARARE, Zimbabwe -- President Robert Mugabe threatened in a speech Tuesday to bring down "the full wrath of the law" against anyone who disturbs Zimbabwean peace and stability.
The threat follows calls by the country's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, for street protests to topple Mugabe's 26-year rule.
"Anyone who dares go against the law, ... dares lead any group of persons to embark on a campaign of violence or terrorist activity, will be inviting the full wrath of the law to descend mercilessly on him and, or on those who follow him," Mugabe, 82, said in a rambling and repetitive speech broadcast on state television to mark the 26th anniversary of independence.
This year's festivities come at a time of deepening economic crisis and a rapidly widening gap between Zimbabwe's rich elite and poor majority. Unemployment exceeds 70 percent, inflation is over 900 percent, and the country faces acute shortages of food, gasoline and other imports.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, a leading Mugabe critic, says at least 10,000 people in the country have died of hunger and malnutrition-related diseases. He accuses officials from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front of denying aid to opposition supporters.
Critics blame Zimbabwe's economic woes on the seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to black Zimbabweans since 2,000.
But Mugabe pointed the finger Tuesday at a "spate of devastating droughts and an evil program of unjustified sanctions" by Western nations. The United States and European Union have imposed travel bans and other targeted sanctions against Mugabe and members of his regime.
"We are happy that no one anywhere in the drought-stricken areas was allowed to die of hunger," said Mugabe, who has led the country since independence from Britain in 1980.
Mugabe also vowed to press ahead with plans to place other economic sectors still under foreign ownership in the hands of the state or black Zimbabweans, including forcing major platinum producers with multibillion dollar development projects under way to sell at least 51 percent of their shares.
© 2006 The Associated Press
By MICHAEL HARTNACK
The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 18, 2006; 4:43 PM
HARARE, Zimbabwe -- President Robert Mugabe threatened in a speech Tuesday to bring down "the full wrath of the law" against anyone who disturbs Zimbabwean peace and stability.
The threat follows calls by the country's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, for street protests to topple Mugabe's 26-year rule.
"Anyone who dares go against the law, ... dares lead any group of persons to embark on a campaign of violence or terrorist activity, will be inviting the full wrath of the law to descend mercilessly on him and, or on those who follow him," Mugabe, 82, said in a rambling and repetitive speech broadcast on state television to mark the 26th anniversary of independence.
This year's festivities come at a time of deepening economic crisis and a rapidly widening gap between Zimbabwe's rich elite and poor majority. Unemployment exceeds 70 percent, inflation is over 900 percent, and the country faces acute shortages of food, gasoline and other imports.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, a leading Mugabe critic, says at least 10,000 people in the country have died of hunger and malnutrition-related diseases. He accuses officials from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front of denying aid to opposition supporters.
Critics blame Zimbabwe's economic woes on the seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to black Zimbabweans since 2,000.
But Mugabe pointed the finger Tuesday at a "spate of devastating droughts and an evil program of unjustified sanctions" by Western nations. The United States and European Union have imposed travel bans and other targeted sanctions against Mugabe and members of his regime.
"We are happy that no one anywhere in the drought-stricken areas was allowed to die of hunger," said Mugabe, who has led the country since independence from Britain in 1980.
Mugabe also vowed to press ahead with plans to place other economic sectors still under foreign ownership in the hands of the state or black Zimbabweans, including forcing major platinum producers with multibillion dollar development projects under way to sell at least 51 percent of their shares.
© 2006 The Associated Press
posted at 7:13 am
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