Mugabe declares new elections for next year

Sat, 18 Dec 2010

Harare - President Robert Mugabe Saturday declared his party would regain its ruling status in elections to be held next year.

He vowed that his Zanu-PF party would crush other political players like a fast-moving train.

"We are back on the revolutionary rails," said the 86-year-old leader as he closed the Zanu PF three-day conference in the eastern border city of Mutare, about 300km east of the capital Harare.

"We leave here redeemed and rejuvenated from the doldrums of 2008. We are a fired-up train. What happened in 2008 will never come again. Never. Never, again," said the former guerrilla leader.

In 2008, his party lost its majority in parliament for the first time since Zimbabwe attained its independence from Great Britain in 1980. Mugabe also lost the first round of presidential elections to then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that same year.

In the run-off, Tsvangirai pulled out, citing violence targeting his supporters. Mugabe declared himself winner but regional leaders forced him to form a coalition government with Tsvangirai who is now Zimbabwe's prime minister.

On Friday, Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party warned that Zimbabwe was not ready for elections next year, citing intimidation by army and militia, and the absence of a new constitution.

Mugabe did not propose a date for the elections.

Mugabe reiterated that his government would nationalize Western-owned banks and financial institutions if their countries do not lift smart sanctions imposed on him and his cronies in 2002.

"Don't expect your banks here to remain the same as they have been. We are not fools," he said.

Mugabe threatened that people who turned their backs on Zimbabwe would be kicked out because they "produce bad smell."

"I am sorry I have said something taboo but these people (whites) naturally produce bad odor," he said. "Those who want to align with us come."

Mugabe said Zimbabwe would refuse investment from the West if they do not lift the sanctions.

"Why should we suffer when we are sitting on wealth? We have diamonds, platinum, gold, methane gas. We have abundance of wealth. We are able to run Zimbabwe without help of America or Britain," Mugabe told about 4,500 supporters.

On Friday, Mugabe threatened to seize Zimbabwe-based firms from Western countries that have imposed sanctions on his government. Under controversial economic empowerment and indigenization laws, foreign-owned businesses have to be 51-per-cent owned by black Zimbabweans.

"Why should Anglo American (mining company) continue to take our gold out? Why should Rio Tinto continue to take our gold out? If the sanctions remain and continue, those processes will have to stop," Mugabe said Saturday.

Western powers enforced restrictions on Mugabe and his party elite in 2002 following reports of human rights violations by Harare.