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Masvingo — President Mugabe yesterday said only Zimbabweans had the authority to change the Government, and slammed Britain for interfering in the country’s internal affairs in pursuit of regime change. President Mugabe, who is on a campaign trail for the 31 July harmonised elections, told over 20 000 Zanu-PF supporters in Masvingo that London — the country’s former coloniser — was trying to foist the MDC-T on Zimbabwe through regime change.
Zimbabwe is set to go for fiercely contested harmonised elections on Wednesday next week in which President Mugabe and four other contenders are vying for the country’s top job.
President Mugabe rallied supporters in Masvingo to vote for Zanu-PF to establish a “one party state” in the province. Zanu-PF used to dominate the Masvingo Province with the revolutionary party controlling all parliamentary seats and council wards but has been losing some of the seats and wards to the MDC in recent elections.
He accused the British of trying to remove his party from power because it did not represent their interests.
“You, the British, are calling for regime change in Zimbabwe. What right have you to do so, whoever calls for regime change in Britain,” he said.
“Regime change in Zimbabwe is the task of Zimbabweans. It is they alone who have the responsibility, the sole right to change government, to change leadership and put new leadership into place if they so decide.”
President Mugabe described Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is backed by London, as an indecisive leader who depended on Britain for policy guidance, among other things.
Mr Tsvangirai’s indecisiveness, he said, was manifest during negotiations for the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the pact that led to the establishment of the inclusive Government five years ago.
President Mugabe said former South African President Thabo Mbeki had to summon massive reserves of patience to contend with Mr Tsvangirai’s flip flopping during GPA negotiations.
“After we agreed on a matter, he (Tsvangirai) would say he wants to speak to his people and after that, came back with a different position,” he said.
The MDC-T, he said, was not a home grown party, but was created by Britain to pursue London’s interests.
“They worship the whites who are their advisors. They do not have their own plan, how can you be a leader without a plan,” President Mugabe said in reference to Mr Tsvangirai.
President Mugabe said MDC formations pretended to be democratic and yet were dictatorial as evidenced by their attempts to extend the lifespan of the inclusive government.
“You have had your free ride in Government,” he said, adding that the expiry of the life of Parliament on 29 June 2013 meant that polls were due.
He said a Zanu-PF Government would create jobs, indigenise the economy and empower the people to be owners and controllers of the economy.
President Mugabe called for unity while encouraging Zanu-PF supporters to vote in their thousands on polling day to guarantee the party’s victory.
He reiterated calls for a peaceful poll.
“We should not hear of any incidence of violence, let’s demonstrate to the world that we are a peaceful people,” President Mugabe said.
He slammed former party members who are contesting as independent candidates in the 31 July polls.
“We have two or three people who think they are greater than the party,” he said.
“We do not want people who impose themselves on people. We want people who obey the rules of the party,” he said.
The First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe also added to the calls for peace, which she said, shamed the country’s detractors.
“The country’s detractors were hoping that there would be violence. We are a peaceful people, we cannot be fighting because we have elections,” she said.
“Peace must prevail beyond July 31,” said Amai Mugabe.
The First Lady donated 50 tonnes of mealie-meal, 20 tonnes of sugar beans, two tonnes of salt and over 1 200 cases of cooking oil to the people of Masvingo. — New Ziana
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo