Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Thursday castigated western countries for refusing to lift sanctions against him and his inner circle until the country's unity government introduced tangible reforms."'We will not lift sanctions', they say, and 'we will not give money except the little pieces of silver for cholera and humanitarian assistance,'" Mugabe told members of his party's consultative assembly in the capital.
Mugabe's statements came as Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai wound up a three-week tour to Europe and the United States where leaders pledged support but urged greater reform.
"'As long as that man is still there, as long as Mugabe is still there, you will not get that money from us, you Tsvangirai,'" Mugabe said, mimicking Western leaders during a speech broadcast on state television.
"Who are they to tell us you do this and that, reform this and that? We don't tell them what they should do in their own countries," he said.
Both the European Union and the United States maintain a travel ban and asset freeze on Mugabe, his wife and inner circle in protest at controversial elections and alleged human rights abuses by his government.
The 85-year-old leader said "imperialists can never be friends" and that the former British colony should instead look to the help of fellow African and developing countries who offered assistance without conditions.
"Only a dead imperialist is a good one. We are Africans, our friends are those of the African community, of the African continent, of the Non-Aligned Movement, of the Third World, those we think like us, those who when they assist you will not lay down conditions," he said.
"Leave those racists and imperialists in their own world." Mugabe formed a power-sharing government with Tsvangirai in February nearly a year after disputed elections.
The government has appealed for 8.3 billion US dollars to rebuild the shattered economy, but the assistance has so far come in dribs and drabs.
Source : Sapa-AFP /rm/ks
Date : 25 Jun 2009 20:01
