> liberation
war.
According to leaked minutes of the 70th Session of Zanu (PF)’s Central
Committee held in Harare a fortnight ago, Mugabe claimed whites had
rejected
the hand of reconciliation he extended to them at independence in 1980
by
aligning themselves with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC)
which he accuses of trying to use the economy for political agendas
against
him.
Mugabe was apparently angered by mounting criticism led by the MDC,
which
accuses him for wilfully flouting the constitution and gross
misconduct. He
also took great exception to allegations that he was running a
dictatorship
and should be hauled before the Hague for crimes against humanity.
Mugabe
alleged the lobby to have him tried for crimes against humanity was
being
led by “unrepentant white Rhodesians” who he claimed were sponsoring
the
MDC, an allegation immediately refuted by the opposition.
He said his ruling Zanu (PF) would put on trial those who fought on the
side
of former Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith on the same lines as the
Nazi
war tribunals in Europe.
“In Europe they are still charging people for the Nazi war crimes; what
can
stop us doing the same here,” Mugabe said. “Ian Smith and his fellow
whites
committed genocide during our liberation war. We buried hundreds of
cadres
at places like Nyadzonia and Chimoio in Mozambique and other places who
were
killed by the white imperialist regime. They will stand trial for their
crimes,” he said adding that his government was looking for an
effective way
to revoke the reconciliation policy.
Mugabe said it was time for black Zimbabweans to wrest control of the
economy from whites who he accused of using it, together with the MDC,
to
push political agendas.
“Our economy remains white, perhaps thoroughly pink, as during the
heydays
of Ian Smith’s Rhodesia,” Mugabe was quoted in the report. “We can
never
secure or defend our people’s welfare from outside the ring of national
economic activity. Let us be clear. If we do not own the economy, we
cannot
secure the livelihood of our people. A people with no economy of their
own
are not a sovereign people.”
Muigabe said his “price war,” which has sparked riots in Harare and a
fierce
scramble for scarce commodities following the price slash, should be
understood as a fight against “imperialist machinations” aimed at
installing
a puppet regime in Harare. Mugabe claimed the country’s detractors had
imposed sanctions – which are in essence a travel ban and an arms
embargo –
and were causing daily price hikes to foment public anger against him.
“The fight is not in the supermarket where goods are overpriced,”
Mugabe
said. “Nor is it in the warehouses where essentials are hoarded. No.
The
fight is much deeper and the party needs to focus on the real game. We
all
know who our enemies are or who our allies are. By harnessing the
economy to
support his politics, (previous British Premier Tony) Blair has clearly
shown us what we lack and thus what we need to consolidate our
sovereignty.
The Cabinet Taskforce has to broaden its vista so we start evolving
strategies to indigenise our economy.”
Mugabe was hopeful that he would mend relations with new British
Premier
Gordon Brown. But this seemed unlikely amid reports Brown has already
indicated his disquiet about the administration in Harare and
threatened to
boycott the forthcoming summit of European Union and African leaders in
Lisbon if President Mugabe is invited.
Reports indicate that Brown warned his Portuguese counterpart, Jose
Socrates, currently president of the EU, against inviting the
Zimbabwean
leader to the summit during a meeting at No 10 Downing Street last
week.
Post published in: News