Zimbabwe shames detractors

Zimbabwe shames detractors
By George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Monday June 30, 2008 [14:22]

ZIMBABWE has shamed all its detractors, President Robert Mugabe has said. And President Mugabe praised South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation efforts saying Zimbabwe has dealt another blow to incorrigible racism. During his installation as President of Zimbabwe at State House on Sunday evening, President Mugabe thanked Zimbabweans for voting him into office again.

"I am honoured and humbled by the faith and confidence our people have, once more, reposed in me. I am indeed, grateful to the people of our great country for their brave and unyielding stand in defence of their sovereignty, their resources and destiny," President Mugabe said. " Once again, we have shamed all our detractors who, through gullible people, tried to use every opportunity to undermine our independence and desecrate our hard-earned sacred right to self-determination acquired, as we all know, after a protracted liberation struggle against British settler intransigence."

He urged Zimbabweans to rejoice because they had dealt yet another blow to intransigence and incorrigible racism.

"I would like to pay tribute to all Zimbabweans countrywide for the massive crowds that hilariously greeted me and the first lady as our entire campaign team moved from province to province, entreating them to cast their votes in defence of our freedom and independence," President Mugabe said. "In this new struggle for our country, many of our valiant comrades lost life and limb, others property. Let those who lost their lives in this gallant struggle rest in peace assured that we remain prepared to defend and protect Zimbabwe's heritage.

"I would like to express our collective gratitude to the law enforcement authorities who ensured that there would be an environment or perfect peace as our people thronged the designated polling stations to cast their votes."

President Mugabe also expressed gratitude to the SADC and President Mbeki. "The role of statesman played by President Thabo Mbeki, the SADC appointed mediator of the inter-party dialogue between ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations, President Thabo Mbeki, Zimbabwe is indebted to his untiring efforts to promote harmony and peace in Zimbabwe," President Mugabe said. "Indeed this last election saw certain constitutional amendments he facilitated in that inter-party dialogue getting their first application. I also wish to acknowledge the support we received from many African states, members of the Non-Aligned Movement, allies and friends in the United Nations Security Council and other progressive movements and thank them for their unwavering solidarity with us as we continue to face the vicious onslaught by Britain and its allies." He called for unity in the country.

"The elections have come and gone. Our challenge today and in the years ahead, is to move forward in unity, regardless of our diverse political affiliations, united by the sense of a common vision and destiny for a prosperous Zimbabwe," President Mugabe said. "Indeed, it is my hope that sooner rather than later, we shall, as diverse political parties, hold consultations towards such serious dialogue as will minimize our difference and enhance the area of unity and cooperation."

President Mugabe pledged economic recovery in his new term of office. "I wish to assure our people that as government we shall remain very much people oriented and thus proceed to fully empower them across the board, and sector by sector, as it takes effective measures to improve the economy and living standards," said President Mugabe.

President Mugabe was sworn in for a five-year term after a sweeping victory in the solo run-off election which registered a record number of spoilt votes in that country's elections.

President Mugabe won the elections by over 85 per cent against MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai who polled about nine per cent although he earlier in the week pulled out of the race on grounds that the environment was not conducive.