via Mugabe uses ZANU PF conference to rage and threaten | SW Radio Africa by Alex Bell on Monday, December 16, 2013
ZANU PF’s ageing leader, Robert Mugabe, used the party’s conference this weekend to rage against the West, his old partners in government, the country’s economic position, the mining sector and more.
The 89 year old also moved to threaten some players in the country’s platinum and gold sectors, repeating calls to ban raw mineral exports.
“We should not continue to send our minerals out in their raw form,” Mugabe told delegates at the party’s annual conference in Chinoyi.
He singled out Zimplats, a subsidiary of platinum-mining multinational Implats, for “externalising” raw platinum ore.
“Zimplats has been exporting platinum but we have very little by way of earnings. We don’t know where the money is going. We must have our money back.”
Mugabe also said the government was considering slashing the number of diamond miners operating in the country.
“We should be looking at the possibility of rationalising the mining of diamonds,” he said. “We have six companies mining diamonds, but of these six only three are really worth talking about. We would also want greater transparency.”
Mugabe also used the conference to take aim at his newly appointed Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, saying he should stop claiming that the government had no money.
“Find money Chinamasa. Where is our platinum, gold and diamonds going? You can’t say there is no money when others are taking it. Tell them we are the owners now and we are taking our money,” Mugabe said.
Mugabe, who spoke at both the opening and closing of the three day conference, said his party was “born again” after the widely disputed elections in July, saying his previous partners in government, the MDC-T were “dead and buried.”
“They will never rise again,” Mugabe said. “We dug graves for them and interred them in those graves.”
Mugabe also had nothing good to say about the previous coalition government, calling it a “humiliation” for ZANU PF.
“Anyway, you did us an honour we went through a tortuous row — a five year humiliation but takangozvidukupisa over those five years tichiziva kuti ah people have to know who this other side are.
‘‘If you want go back again hameno zvenyu munotsva ikoko. Kugehena ka uku. You now know the difference between heaven and earth. Kana mange musingazivi kunaSatana ndikoko.”
He also once again used the platform to make a scathing attack on the West and its leaders, branding them “fools”. This is despite the presence at the conference of United States Ambassador Bruce Wharton and other diplomats.
“The Bible clearly stated that God created man, but there are some who would have wanted it to read ‘God made white man’,” Mugabe said.
He added: “Let no other nation fool you because they are pink and you are black. They think that they are superior but they are dumb fools,” he said.
Political analyst Clifford Mashiri told SW Radio Africa that although it is now customary for Mugabe to rage against the West and the opposition at any opportunity, it was still “deeply embarrassing for Zimbabwe.”
“He uses every opportunity available to attack them… it’s ridiculous and terrible that we have a person like Mugabe, being called a leader, but stooping so low,” Mashiri said.
The analyst added that the tirades are a “diversionary tactic,” with the ZANU PF party “severely fractured” by infighting.
“This is a tactic by Mugabe to divert attention from the party’s imminent implosion,” Mashiri said.
ZANU PF infighting has steadily worsened over recent years, as the fight to determine who will take over from Mugabe hots up. Mugabe did not focus on the fights during his speeches at the weekend conference, stating only that his party would choose his eventual replacement.
COMMENTS
He who God wishes to destroy,he first makes mad.
It is quite surprising that with all the issue Zimbabwe is confronted with, the country’s leader chose to spend the time speaking on issues that are divisive and non-productive. Hating the white man for the next century brings no bread an butter to the table. In fact since the inclusive government was put in place there was more production and trust from other nations. There was more food on the table. more starvation and people are worried about the future. any productive and visionary leader would spend more time planning and projecting on how to save lives and keep more food in the stores. A party summit should be used to plan and make strategies for the country and not just one party and that has been the problem. Zimbabwe should be first and parties come later. Politicians should not be in power as permanent employees as they tend to forget their bases and the will of the people. They want to be “shef” for ever and that is a mistake. Where do we go from here. The British are gone and the Chinese are there and stealing every cent and jewel they can find. They are going to leave Zimbabwe barren. All production must be done in Zimbabwe, thereby creating jobs in the country. By doing so, there will be better accountability of the production of both raw and manufactured goods.
Hope things get better one day during our life time.
Trying to reason through the presidents remarks is not logical. This man is covering up for his failure. His solutions all involve more failure. He wants to fail. He hates himself so much he will not allow success anywhere.
Truly it is past time for this old man to retire.
Mugabe is an expired piece of garbage
Truly, Mugabe has lost the plot. There is no ‘life’ in any of his speeches: only death and destruction. What do ZPF think they are doing by keeping this man at the helm. He should be peacefully retired although I can see there is most certainly no peace in his heart! There is always a sting in the scorpions tale and this will come back to haunt many in ZPF. ZPF are trying to build in the dark; they are trying to build on bitterness and hatred; they are trying to build on a lie! The Lord will not permit that. I pray with all my heart that someone in that party will wake up!
sadly the dipsh!ts who kept this man in pwer are to blame, becoz they are also trying to preserve their own crooked ways rather than face the real law everyone including those of us in the diaspora want Zim to grow and succeed but we will not bow to pressure from old farts like this and his mad cronies in the army to stop sanctions while you are looting, shame on you for the way you r treating all Zimbabweans
WHERE IS PLATINUM, GOLD AND DIAMONDS GOING? You are banking the proceeds in China, Singapore and Switzerland Mr President. That is why you can afford to build Pagodas and mansions everywhere while the country is on its knees…thanks to 34years of polished sound bites but visionless leadership.
The vision was personal to deliver personal advantages using the state. Everyone achieves their vision and you too have. When you look out of the windows of your mansions don’t you pat yourself on the back and say “hey, I have done it!”
But the Zimbabwe you claim to love cannot say the same. Its citizens are wallowing in misery.
The sad thing is that zanupf actually do not have a better plan than mugabe. He is a senile madman and the leader of our country…what the heck are we thinking, and people have the audacity to call him a grand old man who should retire!! He has never been anything more than a cold blooded murderer even killing his own to stay in power, and driven by satans demons to hate with venom anyone or any thing that steps in his way, and those that follow this evil man must expect the same demise and judgement. Dance with the devil and sell your soul to him!Think carefully members of zanupf..
I salute president Mugabe for raising the issue that raw materials like diamond/platinum must not be exported out of the country ,the reason for exporting these raw materials to countries like South Africa is because we don’t have refineries in Zimbabwe to process these raw materials to finished goods , therefore these mining companies in Zimbabwe must take the responsibility of building a refinery which will inturn create jobs for the people of Zimbabwe , it is disappointing that the mining companies are exporting the raw platinum for refenering to other countries which makes things difficult for us as Zimbabweans to audit the profit they are making out of our minerals , the president is correct to say that we need to have transparency on how the mining industry operates .If ever mining industry for so existing can’t even build a refinery to process raw materials better be parteners work together through indegenisation and devlop the sector of mining industry .
I am disappointed on the other hand that the president is still agressive to the opposition and to the weterns of which is really uncalled for , he was at Mandela’s memorial service he should have learnt some common sense out of that gathering , we don’t need him to continue firing rockets at westerns but he must reconcile and bring peace , what is the point of promoting fake relationship with the Chinise , Chin will never develop Zimbabwe appropriately instead they will bring more suffering .
The president is correct to start shouting at his ministers like what he did to the minister of finance , the ministers must stop talking too much without acting accordingly .
I am disappointed that Mugabe never mentioned about the infighting which is a really burning issue among his part members , why should he decided to give a blind eye to this .
For sure the old man is PENGA. What an embarassment to all of us and the world.
The issue of refining of minerals are realistic and acceptable – but impossible to implement. It will cost circa $300 000 000 to build a refinery and Mugabe and his cronies want 49% of the profits for themselves – in other words a free ride of thievery. Nobody is going to invest that kind of money and immediately lose 49% of it to governing looters. The general public will not see s cents benefit from the process and neither will the Government.
It will – like the Government revenue from diamonds vanish into thin air – while the looters will augment their billions in foreign back accounts.
WHAT A FARCE!!!!!!!!!
THIS OLD MAN HAS BEEN INSULTING THE WEST SINCE 1980 BUT WHAT HAVE WE GAINED FROM THAT AS A NATION. THE PROBLEM HE TAKES IT LIKE NGANO WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE DAMAGE IT CAUSES.WHY DO PEOPLE ALSO APPLAUD HIM WHEN HE TALKS NONSENCE LIKE THAT. THEY SAY WHEN YOU GROW OLD YOU BEHAVE LIKE A CHILD AND HE HAS NOW REACHED THAT STAGE AND AS LONG THERE IS SOMEONE TO CHEER HIM HE WILL NOT STOP.ITS HIGH TIME THE WHOLE NATION IGNORES AND BOYCOTS HIS GATHERINGS SO THAT IT NOCKS SOME SENSE IN HIS AGED RUSTED BRAIN.HIS KIDS MUST BE ASKING MUMY WHY ALL PEOPLE HATE DAD THAT WAY. ROBERT JR YOUR DAD HAS DESTROYED OUR COUNTRY ITS HIM WHO PREACHES HATRED. HE WANTS ALL ZIMBABWEANS TO HATE WHITE PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY ARE INNOCENT ASK HIM WHY.THIS WORLD IS FREE FOR ALL TO LIVE IN IT HAPPILY.
@Nyoni , be possitive , so do you think miners in our country must just freely operate , colonisers were here for our minerals , so what makes a difference today between the colonisers and the recently mining companies . Support good initiatives , i don’t support this donkey ZANU PF , but we need to see good ideas and be supportive .
how right he is in saying the GNU was humiliating for Zanu, it showed that the world and Zimbabweans are prepared to assist in the rebuilding of the country but Zanu hasn’t got the credit ability to achieve this goal…
we as zimbabweans we should do something to get read of this old fool, who doesn’t know who is a fool him or the west. we musn’t wait for those other fools in his party bcause i don’t see them doing anything bcause of what tangwena, did to this old fool
I hate the man. But I sometimes agree with him. I agree with beneficiation of our minerals within the country. Platinum is sensitive. There are other minerals that form the platinum mineral group. These are lost and unaccounted for. By all means we need to minimise the export of raw materials. However, where we differ with the old man is on implementation. This has to be planned and managed in a non-partisan and balanced, objective way.
@mujibha that will never happen in Zimbabwe. Can’t you see that you are day dreaming. Everything which the honourable Mr President says is always wrong simply because you hate him.
What have you benefited from the raw materials being exported to be refined in other counntries. Can’t you that you are so stupid for that matter. You are one the type of people who do not want to see any development in Zimbabwe. Anyway did you ever go to school? Do you even understand what politics is? or you just comment whenever you hear the name Robert Mugabe!
What makes you think you are so capable of calling other people fools? You are really a disgusting person. Wake up!
Gandaga , i think you are missing a point , try to read again what mujibha stated . Exporting raw materials to other countries for refining is loss to the country , we need these raw materials to be refined in Zimbabwe and that will create jobs . Do you really understand this , i think you are the loser here , are you educated , can you conduct a debate .
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE PROMOTING PEACE AND UNITY, BUT ALAS ONLY HATRED. THIS IS A SIGN OF BITTERNESS. AS A LEADER HE IS FAILING TO UNITE 12 MILLION PEOPLE, AS COMPARED TO MANDELA WHO HAS UNITED OVER 45 MILLION PEOPLE. PLEASE MR PRESIDENT WE ARE PLEADING WITH YOU EMBRACE ALL PEOPLE, PREACH LOVE AND FORGIVENESS, THIS IS A GREAT COUNTRY,YOU ARE A FATHER LOVE ALL YOUR CHILDREN EVEN MORGAN.
Take away the anger, emotion and frustration (that no-one gets it), from what he has said, and you might learn something.
welcome to Zimbabwe , heaven on earth thanks to gods boy child, Mugabe…This is all self-inclicted….LOL
Robert, you wretched fool, you must be the most miserable, angry, resentful, cheated man in history. How can this be? In a mere thirty-three years you have become a god. The riches of the Jewel of Africa have gone into your pockets and foreign bank accounts. Your mansion shames the royalty of Europe. All this would make ordinary mortals sigh with a sense of achievement and conquest, and probably throw a few thanksgiving parties whereat they would bless their guests; out of the rest dwelling their own hearts they would infuse restfulness and gratitude into others. But not you. You are convinced you are the most cheated of all men. Parties, for you, are only occasions purposed for you to wound, hurt, lash out, grind, and otherwise pound your guests, the nation, even, foreign nations, with the inner storm that rages in your eternally bitter heart. Every time you open your mouth, wenyeji who love, love Zimbabwe stagger, wince, and mourn in heart pain from the psychic lashing you dish out to their morale and hopes and aspirations, their love. Zimbabwe will always be in wreckage as long as lashing and pounding of the inner storm in your heart spills out and smashes its efforts and peels strips of bleeding flesh from its people, cuts them to the heart.
One would at least out of charity, hope that your resentment is not for yourself but on behalf of others, but I can’t find it. You kicked white men’s butt, then turned and took your own country captive and cooly and deliberately stripped the black man of even the power to earn his own bread, so your bitterness is clearly not for the plight of the people or the nation. You bulldozed the most vulnerable of the poor into the dirt and stomped their tears into their faces, so it’s clearly not for the poor that fires your vitriolic passion. We do know why you can’t make friends; for the same reason a scorpion can’t make friends. It must strike anything that touches it
No-one knows why you are so stinking mean. All we do know is that soon you will die, and as you struggle for your last breath, you will die not wondering if, but knowing for certain you are the most cheated, wreched, defeated, wasted of all men in history. Others in your place would sing in joy and gratitude as their last breath expires. You will inhale bitter sulfurous vapors that burn from your own resentful heart. And what a relief to the nation, when the snarling of the accuser will finally be silent.
The most accurate description I have seen of Mugabe