ZIMBABWE: Mugabe says opposition must drop claim to power

Record ID: 830603

  • Title: ZIMBABWE: Mugabe says opposition must drop claim to power
  • Date: 5th July 2008
  • Summary: (W3) HARARE, ZIMBABWE (JULY 4,2008) (REUTERS) CROWD WAITING FOR ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE BANNER READING "ODINGA OUR FIGHTING CAPABILITY IS TRIED AND TESTED" PEOPLE DANCING / CHEERING BANNER READING "NO TO UNITY WITH WESTERN PUPPETS" BANNER WITH PICTURE OF MUGABE
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Zimbabwe
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAD5JO9DNKHF0O1FV4Y34XGDDLQ
  • Story Text: Robert Mugabe calls on opposition to drop claim to power and accept him as the President of Zimbabwe.
    Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, defiant despite heavy foreign condemnation of his re-election, said on Friday (July 4) the opposition must drop its claim to power and accept that he was the rightful head of state.
    Mugabe struck an intransigent stance when he returned home after an African Union summit this week which handed him an unprecedented rebuff, telling him to negotiate a national unity government with Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC opposition.
    He told thousands of cheering supporters at the airport:
    "I am the President of The Republic of Zimbabwe and no one else, and that is the reality that everybody has to accept first and foremost if they want dialogue with us."
    Mugabe extended his 28-year rule in a June 27 election which Tsvangirai boycotted, saying a violent, government-backed campaign made a fair vote impossible.
    Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Friday a violent crackdown by security forces and pro-Mugabe militias had killed 103 of its followers while 1,500 had been detained.
    Some 5,000 others, including polling agents, were missing after being abducted by ruling ZANU-PF militia or security agents since Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a first round of voting in March.
    As Mugabe arrived home, neighbouring Botswana called on the Southern African Development Community, the regional body mediating in Zimbabwe, not to recognise Mugabe's re-election. Botswana was one of the most outspoken critics of Mugabe, 84, at the summit.
    But the veteran leader remained defiant despite unprecedented African criticism. In remarks apparently aimed at Botswana and Zambia, another regional critic, Mugabe warned his neighbours not to pick a fight.

    "But if there is a neighbouring country that is itching for a fight, we say let them try it, and they will taste the salt there is in the fight," he said.
    Mugabe, in power since 1980, insisted that Zimbabwe's crisis, which has ruined the economy and sent millions of refugees into neighbouring states, must be settled internally.
    Tsvangirai has rejected talks until violence ends. He says Mugabe's ZANU-PF party must accept him as the rightful election winner, after a first round poll in March in which he defeated the veteran president.
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