Mugabe relents on Byo, Harare threat

via Mugabe relents on Byo, Harare threat by Xinhua

Mugabe pledged at the weekend that his government would embrace every Zimbabwean including those who do not support his party, sending a conciliatory note to the opposition

The remarks followed threats last Sunday against Harare and Bulawayo residents for rejecting his Zanu PF party in the just ended elections which were condemned by the opposition.

The country’s two biggest cities overwhelmingly voted for the MDC-T and Mugabe, clearly unimpressed, said residents must look to the MDC-T for service delivery.

But speaking at the burial of liberation war hero and former cabinet minister Kumbirai Kangai at the national heroes’ acre on Saturday, a conciliatory Mugabe said every Zimbabwean was entitled to government support regardless of their political affiliation.

“We will not deny you food if in need. We will not punish you. Every Zimbabwean is entitled to government support,” he said.

Mugabe defeated MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the July 31 by 61 percent against Tsvangirai’s 34 percent.

Zanu PF party also won a two-thirds majority in parliament, reversing a loss they suffered in the 2008 elections when the party lost parliamentary majority for the first time since the independence in 1980.

The veteran leader is expected to announce a new cabinet this week.

Meanwhile, Mugabe rejected criticism of his party of monopolising the conferment of national hero status.

The MDC-T and some civil society organisations have in the past called for the establishment of a non-partisan body to adjudicate on conferment of national hero status.

But Mugabe said the national heroes’ acre was a burial place for distinguished patriotic Zimbabweans that made significant contribution to the liberation and development of the country and remained loyal to the revolutionary principles of Zanu PF.

It was not a burial place for everyone and those unhappy must establish their own burial places, he said.

“We don’t want to hear such complaints again. Find your own places to bury your own people,” he said.

 

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