ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe holds a rally in the city of Bulawayo ahead of Wednesday's election

Record ID: 214015

  • Title: ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe holds a rally in the city of Bulawayo ahead of Wednesday's election
  • Date: 27th July 2013
  • Summary: BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE (JULY 27, 2013) (REUTERS) PAN FROM RIGHT TO LEFT OF ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE'S CAMPAIGN VENUE VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS APPLAUDING MORE OF SUPPORTERS LISTENING TO PARTY OFFICIAL ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE (WHITE CAP) SEATED NEXT TO HIS WIFE GRACE VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS LISTENING AND CHANTING GRACE WITH PARTY OFFICIAL GRACE LISTENING TO PRESIDENT MUGABE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT, ROBERT MUGABE, SAYING: "Zimbabwe which we fought for, died for must never be a colony again." SUPPORTERS LISTENING TO MUGABE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT, ROBERT MUGABE, SAYING: "They are surprised that Zimbabwe has not collapsed under the heavy weight of sanctions. We don't collapse, we will never collapse. We will never collapse because first we know our resources, we have resources we can always tap in difficult times." SUPPORTERS LISTENING A SUPPORTER HOLDING UP A MAGAZINE WITH A PICTURE OF MUGABE ON IT TO COVER HER EYES FROM THE SUN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT, ROBERT MUGABE, SAYING: "This Tsvangirai. He says people must be left free to choose whether they want homosexuality or not. There is no choice at all there is no choice; man must marry woman. That is why we have been created." VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Zimbabwe
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEOGEERW342VOMHW33ZTCXHSTW
  • Story Text: Zimbabwe's entrenched president Robert Mugabe on Saturday (July 27) drummed up support for his ZANU-PF party in the southern city of Bulawayo ahead of Wednesday's (July 31) election.
    ZANU-PF die hard supporters flocked to the venue of Saturday rally braving the mid-day heat, chanting pro-party slogans to the delighted Mugabe who sat beaming in a shed.
    Wednesday's polls are pitting Mugabe against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his main political foe.
    The 89-year-old Mugabe, Zimbabwe's only leader since independence from Britain in 1980, is seeking to extend his rule despite questions over his health, allegations of human rights abuses and a disastrous economic track record.
    And Mugabe was resolute when speaking to supporters as he evoked memories of the nation gaining independence.
    Mugabe also dismissed sanctions imposed on his country saying they had failed to bring down the country's economy and that Zimbabwe will prevail in the end.
    The United States has said in recent months that it was deeply concerned by a lack of transparency in the run-up to the vote, suggesting Washington was in no mood to ease sanctions against a victorious Mugabe and his inner circle even if he wins without violence.
    Britain also said its misgivings about the election justified maintaining European Union sanctions imposed more than a decade ago for suspected vote rigging and human rights abuses.
    "Zimbabwe which we fought for, died for, must never be a colony again," Mugabe told his supporters on Saturday.
    "They (other nations) are surprised that Zimbabwe has not collapsed under the heavy weight of sanctions. We don't collapse, we will never collapse. We will never collapse because first we know our resources, we have resources we can always tap in difficult times."
    Mugabe went on to criticise Tsvangirai for supporting freedom of choice when it came to sexuality saying this would lead to confusion in the mainly Christian country.
    "This Tsvangirai. He says people must be left free to choose whether they want homosexuality or not," Mugabe said. "There is no choice at all there is no choice; man must marry woman. That is why we have been created."
    The election will be the third attempt by Tsvangirai to unseat Mugabe.
    Africa's oldest leader, Mugabe was forced into a power-sharing government with Tsvangirai after the disputed 2008 polls.
    The run-up has been dogged by poor planning and charges of irregularities, particularly in the electoral roll, although the African Union (AU) has described it as peaceful. The United States said last week it was 'deeply concerned' by a lack of transparency in the preparations.
    The country is still emerging from a decade of economic decline and hyperinflation.
    Finance Minister Tendai Biti cut his 2013 growth forecast to 3.4 percent on Thursday (July 25) and said any disputes over the election result would hit the chances of a recovery.
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