Remain united or you’re doomed, Mugabe tells Zambia

LUSAKA — President Robert Mugabe has challenged Zambians to remain united and also avoid tribalism, insisting this was the only way the country could avoid being doomed.

Source: Remain united or you’re doomed, Mugabe tells Zambia – NewsDay Zimbabwe September 14, 2016

Agencies

Mugabe was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of Zambia’s President-elect Edgar Lungu at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka yesterday.
The veteran politician described Zimbabwe and Zambia as Siamese twins.

“We admire you. You are our great friends, our great brothers and sisters and it must continue,” he said.

Mugabe also spoke about the need for democracy across Africa to ensure peace on the continent.

“Africa must maintain its freedom and that can only happen if we maintain democracy in our States. Democratic States are peaceful.
“Democratic States don’t entertain violence nor can they be expected to tolerate organisations that want to use violence to take power.”

Lungu was sworn in yesterday with his Vice-President Inonge Wina after being declared winner of the August 11 elections by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

An opposition petition challenging his re-election was thrown out by the Constitutional Court on technical grounds. An attempt to block the inauguration ceremony through the courts also failed.

Mugabe’s comments on unity and democracy come at a time when his Zanu PF government is facing unrelenting protests from the opposition and ordinary Zimbabweans pressing for an end to the country’s economic crisis.