Mugabe denounces ‘evil’ US, EU

via Mugabe denounces ‘evil’ US, EU 25/09/2014

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe told the United Nations on Thursday his country is the target of “evil” actions that are hurting its economy and people as the West seeks to oust him.

Mugabe said for daring to empower her people, Zimbabwe “has become a victim of the evil machinations of Western countries, namely the United States of America and the European Union, who continue to apply unilateral and illegal sanctions” as a tool to achieve regime change.

The US and EU sanctions imposed on Zimbabwean state firms, as well as travel restrictions on Mugabe and dozens of his associates, were initially a response to a violent 2000 election and the sometimes violent seizures of white-owned commercial farms for black resettlement.

The veteran leader demanded the immediate and unconditional lifting of the sanctions in his annual address to the 193-nation assembly..

“These evil sanctions violate the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and should be condemned by the international community. We once again call for their immediate and unconditional removal.

“We call on those who continue to harbour ill will against us to cast away their hegemony-driven hostility as we appeal to them to review their hard positions and open a new chapter in their relations with us based on mutual respect and friendly cooperation.

The Zanu PF leader overwhelmingly won an election last year but his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, denounced the poll as a “huge fraud.”

Mugabe, 90, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. He however believes the former coloniser is working to force him out of power and regain control of the country.

“Regime change is a diabolical illegal policy of interference in the domestic issues of my country,” he said.

Mugabe, southern Africa’s most prominent surviving liberation hero, was not invited last month to a Washington summit of African presidents hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama that looked to rekindle U.S.-Africa ties.

Britain and the United States tried unsuccessfully to persuade the U.N. Security Council in 2008 to expand the U.S. and European sanctions on Mugabe and other officials by making them binding for all U.N. member states. But Russia and China, backed by South Africa, used their veto to block the move.