I Am Not Going Anywhere: Mugabe

Published: 2016 July 28 07:07:44 (3441 Views)

NINETY-TWO old Robert Mugabe says he is 'fit and strong' and is not leaving the presidency anytime soon despite a push by social and political movements allegedly sponsored by the West.
Addressing a war vets meeting yesterday, Mugabe said foreign embassies should stop meddling in local politics by sponsoring dissident groupings to subvert a constitutionally-elected government.
He also cautioned churches against dabbling in politics, saying the ruling zanu-pf party would not tolerate "any nonsense" perpetrated in the name of religion.
He said he would only leave office at the behest of Zimbabweans, not foreigners.
"Foreign embassies in the country that are interfering with our politics, intervening or those doing it clandestinely, I want to warn them to desist from it," he said.
"The rules that govern them don't allow them to interfere with our politics, to try to subvert our system of government and to do things that amount to subverting the present Government and its authority. Please STOP IT!"
Western embassies such as the United States, Britain and France have been implicated as sponsors of demonstrations by shadowy groups such as Tajamuka/Sesijikile in the past weeks.
Mugabe said zanu-pf was there to stay and would not be shaken by plots that had been tested and failed before. "Journalists, tell those you are representing that Robert Mugabe is still here, well and strong," he said.
"My people will have me for yet some time. And those outside who don't like me, I say well that's your own concern. I say I don't mind it. But please don't interfere with us. We are free people and keep out of our country."
Mugabe went on: "Yes, they might run around here and there saying Mugabe should go. I am created as President by the people of Zimbabwe. I have always and always been, whether acting as President, now as I am doing or yesterday in the party as secretary-general, publicity secretary. If the party, when the moment comes, says we want change, sure we will have that change."
"The party overrides government and you know our policies override the policies of Government. "The policies of Government derive from the policies of the party. Once the party says you rest, yes (I will) or if I ask the party that I think time has come for me to rest, I will tell the party that.
"As long as the party still wants me to serve and if I still have the energy, the life and the blessings of God, I will continue. It's the people all the time, the people's right, the people's authority over me and I am sure that's the position over all of us in the leadership of the party and the Government.
"We are people-oriented, meaning we are governed by the wishes of the people, by their interests. Once we cease to be so we have gone astray."
"We have the means to defend and protect our hard won freedom. That is crucial to us. We have brought unity to the people and people are united. Please don't disunite our people."

- Herald