Zimbabwe President Rapped West For Bad Faith, Dishonesty

Republic of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe says that there should be no delay in the national elections scheduled for some time during 2013. The ruling ZANU-PF party indicates it is prepared to take on the imperialist-backed MDC-T., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

West rapped for bad faith, dishonesty

September 16, 2013
Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

PRESIDENT Mugabe has rapped Western countries, describing them as unprincipled for backtracking on their prior pledge to be guided by the African Union and Sadc’s verdict on the July 31 harmonised elections.The AU, Comesa and Sadc, that had observer missions on the ground, have since endorsed the elections as free, peaceful, credible and an expression of the will of Zimbabweans while Britain, the US and Canada — that were not invited — cast aspersions on Africa’s opinion.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has since announced plans to intensify the US sanctions regime. The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was speaking at a prize giving ceremony of the 2013 edition of the President’s Medal Shoot Competition at Cleveland Range in Harare yesterday.

“It is abundantly clear that the imperialists will not accept an election in which we emerge victorious,” he said.

“The Anglo-Saxon world has failed to live up to their promise that they would respect the findings of the Sadc and AU election observers.

This shows how unprincipled our detractors can be, when they fail to even abide by the positions they themselves will have publicly promised to take.

“I am, however, proud that we, as Zimbabweans, know their wayward thinking, which we have learnt to live with for close to a decade-and-a-half now.”

Sadc and the AU endorsed the elections which were won resoundingly by President Mugabe and Zanu-PF as free, credible and a true reflection of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia last week said the European bloc was still waiting for Sadc’s final report to pronounce its position on the elections.

This is despite the fact that the Head of the Sadc Election Observer Mission to Zimbabwe Mr Bernard Membe recently delivered the regional body’s final report, declaring the polls as free, credible and a true reflection of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

President Mugabe said the refusal by Anglo-Saxons to accept the outcome of the July 31 harmonised elections was clear evidence that they were still determined to re-colonise Zimbabwe.

“Despite the fact that these elections were peaceful, free, fair and credible, we have witnessed a concerted effort by the Anglo-Saxon world, led by Britain and the United States, to discredit them,” he said.

“This should serve as a reminder that the enemy we engaged yesteryear as we fought for our independence and economic self-determination continues to pursue illegal regime change against our country.”

President Mugabe said the peaceful environment that characterised the electoral period bore testimony to the commitment, dedication and professionalism of the country’s security services in the creation and maintenance of peace, as well as law and order.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the exemplary behaviour which you demonstrated during and after the elections,” he said.

“The electoral process and the election outcome have been endorsed by Sadc, Comesa, the African Union and observer missions from Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.”

President Mugabe said events such as shooting competitions engendered a spirit of resilience which he described as a perfect antidote against relentless efforts by Zimbabwe’s detractors to destabilise and weaken the country’s systems, particularly the security services sector.

He said the shooting competition was an important event as it enhanced shooting skills among security officers and provided them with an opportunity to exchange notes on security developments.

President Mugabe said it was encouraging to note that there was a significant increase of female participants in this year’s competition.
There were 48 female participants in the finals unlike last year where 75 percent of the final participants were male.

“I take note that this year’s event saw a significant increase in the number of female participants,” said President Mugabe. “A total of 159 female participants took part in the eliminations. This represents a 21 percent increase on last year’s figures.

“In the male category, a total of 354 officers took part in the eliminations, representing a 25 percent increase compared to last year.”
This year’s shooting competition was held under the theme: “Nurturing skills to enhance national security for economic development.”

President Mugabe said the theme was more precise as it reminded people of the need to apply efforts and energies towards defending the country’s resources and sovereignty.

The overall winner of this year’s competition was Sergeant John Chindito of the Zimbabwe National Army. Sergeant Evelyn Fimba also from ZNA scooped the Nehanda Ladies Trophy.