Robert Mugabe has for the first time publicly admitted that he
lost the disputed March 2008 election.
The octogenarian told delegates attending the 11th people’s conference in
Mutare on Friday that he lost to MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the
presidential election because Zanu PF party activists campaigned against
him.
Mugabe said he was saved by electoral laws which allow for a run-off if the
winner does not garner more than 50 percent of the ballot.
“We heard others saying vote for this one and not this one. I lost some
votes as a result of that,” he said.
He said the party activists who were behind such machinations did not
realise that if he had been dislodged from power, the entire party would
have been affected also.
To avoid a repeat of that in the next year’s election, Mugabe threatened
members of his inner circle and Zanu PF activists who dare deviate from
resolutions made in Mutare.
In apparent reference to reports that some of his lieutenants were against
holding elections next year, Mugabe said he did not want anybody to oppose
what would have been decided at the conference.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Robert Mugabe 'ready to bury the opposition'
Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe has said his party is ready to bury his
Western-backed opposition "forever" as there are warnings his forces are
fanning out across the country in a bid to intimidate voters ahead of
elections.
Mr Mugabe told delegates that he and Zanu PF were still fit for power. "We
are indeed a fired up, fuelled and fast moving train," he said. "Those who
stand in the way of that train stand the risk of being crushed."
The party's chairman, Simon Moyo, told its members to prepare for elections
in 2011. "We must bury forever this combined British and American
non-governmental organisation," he said.
Western-backed opposition "forever" as there are warnings his forces are
fanning out across the country in a bid to intimidate voters ahead of
elections.
Mr Mugabe told delegates that he and Zanu PF were still fit for power. "We
are indeed a fired up, fuelled and fast moving train," he said. "Those who
stand in the way of that train stand the risk of being crushed."
The party's chairman, Simon Moyo, told its members to prepare for elections
in 2011. "We must bury forever this combined British and American
non-governmental organisation," he said.
WikiLeaks cables: UN offered Robert Mugabe a lucrative retirement overseas
The head of the United Nations offered Robert Mugabe a lucrative retirement
package in an overseas haven if he stood down as Zimbabwe's president,
according to claims quoted in leaked diplomatic cables.
The extraordinary offer was allegedly made by Kofi Annan, who was then the
UN secretary general, at the millennium summit of world leaders in New York,
according to a memo drawn up by American officials which was obtained by the
WikiLeaks website.
The memo, written in September 2000, records a meeting between a US embassy
official in Harare and a senior source in the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), the party opposed to Mugabe's Zanu-PF.
According to the MDC source, whose name the Observer has redacted, "Kofi
Annan, in the recent meeting in New York during the millennium summit
offered Mugabe a deal to step down. Although [the MDC source] said the MDC
was not privy to the details, he surmised that Annan's supposed deal
probably included provision of safe haven and a financial package from
Libyan president [Gaddafi]. The opposition party heard that Mugabe turned
down the offer the following day after discussing it with the first lady."
The offer, which many Zimbabwean experts may simply dismiss as wishful
thinking on the part of a frustrated MDC, was not the only one rumoured to
have been made to Mugabe at that time. The cable reveals that Zanu-PF itself
had put out "feelers" to see whether the MDC would be willing to allow
Mugabe a "graceful exit" that was "in Zimbabwe's national interest".
package in an overseas haven if he stood down as Zimbabwe's president,
according to claims quoted in leaked diplomatic cables.
The extraordinary offer was allegedly made by Kofi Annan, who was then the
UN secretary general, at the millennium summit of world leaders in New York,
according to a memo drawn up by American officials which was obtained by the
WikiLeaks website.
The memo, written in September 2000, records a meeting between a US embassy
official in Harare and a senior source in the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), the party opposed to Mugabe's Zanu-PF.
According to the MDC source, whose name the Observer has redacted, "Kofi
Annan, in the recent meeting in New York during the millennium summit
offered Mugabe a deal to step down. Although [the MDC source] said the MDC
was not privy to the details, he surmised that Annan's supposed deal
probably included provision of safe haven and a financial package from
Libyan president [Gaddafi]. The opposition party heard that Mugabe turned
down the offer the following day after discussing it with the first lady."
The offer, which many Zimbabwean experts may simply dismiss as wishful
thinking on the part of a frustrated MDC, was not the only one rumoured to
have been made to Mugabe at that time. The cable reveals that Zanu-PF itself
had put out "feelers" to see whether the MDC would be willing to allow
Mugabe a "graceful exit" that was "in Zimbabwe's national interest".
Thanks to Mugabe, still missing
Around this time in December 2008, scores of people were forcibly taken away
from their homes, buses and business centres . Tearful colleagues and
relatives reported a total of 41 missing persons. Over the past two years
,some of these tormented citizens have been released from secret state
detention centres but five of them have virtually disappeared, looks like
the world has all but forgotten about them, does anyone know anything about
these poor souls.
1. Lovemore Machokota
2. Charles Muza
3. Ephraim Mabeka
4. Edmore Vangirayi
5. Gwenzi Kahiya
from their homes, buses and business centres . Tearful colleagues and
relatives reported a total of 41 missing persons. Over the past two years
,some of these tormented citizens have been released from secret state
detention centres but five of them have virtually disappeared, looks like
the world has all but forgotten about them, does anyone know anything about
these poor souls.
1. Lovemore Machokota
2. Charles Muza
3. Ephraim Mabeka
4. Edmore Vangirayi
5. Gwenzi Kahiya
Free & Fair" Elections Impossible In Zimbabwe
Mugabe is not interested in democracy. Neither is he interested in leading the country as a duly elected President should. He is more intent on enforcing his tenure in the top office of the land, come hell or high water.
Mugabe has no care as to how many lives will be snuffed out with his mission to intimidate and oppress the public into ‘voting’ for ZANU PF.
Mugabe has no care as to how many lives will be snuffed out with his mission to intimidate and oppress the public into ‘voting’ for ZANU PF.
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