Harare (Earth Times) - Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans took part in celebrations on Sunday to mark the 30th anniversary of independence from Britain.
Addressing around 30,000 people at a rally in the National Sports Stadium in Harare, President Robert Mugabe was in typically ebullient form, accusing Britain, of continuing to oppress Zimbabwe, "with the help of the US."
"They keep saying sanctions must remain," he said, referring to the refusal by the US and European Union to lift targeted sanctions which they imposed on the autocratic president and members of his inner circle following violent elections in 2002.
"The land we have is not for the British," the former guerrilla leader, who has ruled Zimbabwe for all three decades of independence, said.
Mugabe also defended attempts by his Zanu-PF party to push through new laws forcing white- and foreign-owned companies to hand over ownership of their assets to black Zimbabweans within five years.
"The indigenization and empowerment policy will broaden ownership and participation in the economy in a manner that recognizes the sovereign right of the indigenous people of Zimbabwe," he vowed.
Earlier this week, a spokesman for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who had opposed the measures, said the cabinet of Mugabe's and Tsvangirai's unity government had agreed to suspend the new regulations, which had sparked alarm in the business community.
Many had compared the laws to Mugabe's disastrous land reform program, in which thousands of white farmers had their lands seized by ruling party faithful, causing agricultural output to plummet.
Mugabe denies the business regulations have been shelved.
Independence Day in Zimbabwe is celebrated mainly by supporters of Zanu-PF, which fought a seven-year guerrilla war against white minority rule in the 1970s before coming the party of power at independence in 1980.
"Mr Mugabe is a lion. He wrestled leadership from them (whites), then land. Now he wants to give us their companies. He's great," Charles Basa, a Zanu-PF supporter, told the German Press Agency dpa.
Others were more interested in a football match afterward, between a team from Harare and the second city of Bulawayo. Earlier, the crowd was treated to a military display.
The run-up to Sunday's anniversary was markedly devoid of excitement.
Many Zimbabweans are disappointed at the decline in fortunes of a country that was a breadbasket of southern Africa at independence and where millions now depend on foreign food aid.
"Things must change quickly so that we feel the so-called independence," Mercy Mhako, a street vendor, who was selling cigarettes and drinks outside the stadium, and carried a baby on her back, said.
Zimbabwe's economy hit rock bottom in 2008, the year Zanu-PF was defeated in general elections by the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mugabe was outpolled by MDC leader Tsvangirai in the first round of voting for president.
After a bloody presidential run-off vote, Mugabe bowed to pressure from the African Union to share power with the MDC.
Tsvangirai, who has been prime minister since February 2009, attended Sunday's celebrations, along with several of his ministers.
The MDC's presence in government has helped stabilize the economy but foreign investment has been coming in at a trickle as investors hold out for more reforms.
Addressing around 30,000 people at a rally in the National Sports Stadium in Harare, President Robert Mugabe was in typically ebullient form, accusing Britain, of continuing to oppress Zimbabwe, "with the help of the US."
"They keep saying sanctions must remain," he said, referring to the refusal by the US and European Union to lift targeted sanctions which they imposed on the autocratic president and members of his inner circle following violent elections in 2002.
"The land we have is not for the British," the former guerrilla leader, who has ruled Zimbabwe for all three decades of independence, said.
Mugabe also defended attempts by his Zanu-PF party to push through new laws forcing white- and foreign-owned companies to hand over ownership of their assets to black Zimbabweans within five years.
"The indigenization and empowerment policy will broaden ownership and participation in the economy in a manner that recognizes the sovereign right of the indigenous people of Zimbabwe," he vowed.
Earlier this week, a spokesman for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who had opposed the measures, said the cabinet of Mugabe's and Tsvangirai's unity government had agreed to suspend the new regulations, which had sparked alarm in the business community.
Many had compared the laws to Mugabe's disastrous land reform program, in which thousands of white farmers had their lands seized by ruling party faithful, causing agricultural output to plummet.
Mugabe denies the business regulations have been shelved.
Independence Day in Zimbabwe is celebrated mainly by supporters of Zanu-PF, which fought a seven-year guerrilla war against white minority rule in the 1970s before coming the party of power at independence in 1980.
"Mr Mugabe is a lion. He wrestled leadership from them (whites), then land. Now he wants to give us their companies. He's great," Charles Basa, a Zanu-PF supporter, told the German Press Agency dpa.
Others were more interested in a football match afterward, between a team from Harare and the second city of Bulawayo. Earlier, the crowd was treated to a military display.
The run-up to Sunday's anniversary was markedly devoid of excitement.
Many Zimbabweans are disappointed at the decline in fortunes of a country that was a breadbasket of southern Africa at independence and where millions now depend on foreign food aid.
"Things must change quickly so that we feel the so-called independence," Mercy Mhako, a street vendor, who was selling cigarettes and drinks outside the stadium, and carried a baby on her back, said.
Zimbabwe's economy hit rock bottom in 2008, the year Zanu-PF was defeated in general elections by the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mugabe was outpolled by MDC leader Tsvangirai in the first round of voting for president.
After a bloody presidential run-off vote, Mugabe bowed to pressure from the African Union to share power with the MDC.
Tsvangirai, who has been prime minister since February 2009, attended Sunday's celebrations, along with several of his ministers.
The MDC's presence in government has helped stabilize the economy but foreign investment has been coming in at a trickle as investors hold out for more reforms.
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