PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday told outgoing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that he “can go hang” if he is not prepared to accept his election victory in the July 31 elections.
EVERSON MUSHAVA/OBEY MANAYITI
Mugabe, speaking in public for the first time since his re-election at Heroes’ Day commemorations in Harare, said his controversial victory was not reversible.
“Those who cannot accept defeat are wasting their time. They can even go and hang if they want, but even dogs will not sniff at their carcasses,” the 89-year-old ruler said in apparent reference to the MDC-T.
“Never will we go back on our victory.”
Mugabe garnered 61% of the votes against Tsvangirai’s 33%, but the MDC-T leader has refused to concede defeat saying the elections were rigged.
Zanu PF supporters at the Heroes’ Acre waved placards urging Tsvangirai to concede defeat.
Mugabe warned that challenging the outcome of the elections in court would be a futile exercise.
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“We have heard they have gone to consult a witch doctor,” he said. “Beware, they could be embarking on a futile exercise that could backfire.
“They (MDC-T) are the thieves, but they say we have stolen the election. “We kept quiet when they stole the 2008 election using bogus non-governmental organisations.
“How can they say we are thieves when we have taken what belongs to us? “The people have realised that they are thieves and voted them out. They are down and will never rise again.
“We never give the power to thieves,” he said, repeating his claims that the MDC-T were puppets of the West.
“At some point sellouts emerged from amongst us — those who allowed themselves to be used by our erstwhile colonisers to take our land from us. “But we thank the people of Zimbabwe and truly we fought hard and we won.” Mugabe also took a jibe at countries that have refused to accept his victory. “We voted democratically,” he claimed.
“We brought democracy. We have delivered democracy on a platter. “If they do not want to take it, let it be, but the people have delivered it.”
Mugabe said his new government would focus on infrastructure development, improve health and education delivery systems and improve the manufacturing sector.
He pleaded for unity and also promised to fulfill the pre-election promises he made to the electorate among them, adjusting civil servants’ salaries.
“We have promised to address the issue of salaries and conditions of living. We pledge to fulfil this promise this year,” Mugabe added.
The celebrations were boycotted by leaders of both MDC formations. Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara cut a lonely figure at the national shrine.
