via Our friends are here, Bob tells ‘evil’ West 16/09/2014
“OUR greatest friends are here”, President Robert told the West Tuesday as he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who was in Zimbabwe to commission a US$3 billion platinum mining project – the largest single foreign investment in the country.
Mugabe met Lavrov at his Zvimba rural home and the Russian diplomat, clearly aware of his host’s abiding vanities, massaged Mugabe’s ego by calling him “a legend, a historical figure”.
Indeed, it has been a good couple of weeks for Mugabe. The visit by a top Russian minister came after the Zimbabwean leader returned from China where he was assured of funding for massive infrastructure development projects he hopes will help fire the country’s struggling economy.
Speaking at a press briefing with Lavrov Tuesday, Mugabe said: “This act (platinum deal) we say to our people, our greatest friends here they are. Yesterday, I was in Beijing, again there to get our greatest friends to work with us today.
“These are the two main pillars of support of our revolution yesterday and they remain the two pillars of our support in international law and so we say to them Great thanks for standing with us in perpetuity …”
The Zanu PF leader has been actively courting China and, now Russia, both key supporters of the country’s liberation struggle after falling out with former admirers and financial backers in the West.
Zimbabwe was in 2002 slapped with devastating sanctions by the West allegedly over concerns about electoral fraud and human rights abuses, allegations denied by Mugabe who insists the measures were aimed at forcing him out of power because of his controversial land reforms.
The sanctions helped trigger a decade-long economic crisis and came close to forcing Mugabe out of power in 2008 when he lost the first round of the presidential ballot.
The Zanu PF leader then claimed the second round but by means most foul according to the opposition only to be forced into a power-sharing arrangement by regional leaders.
On Tuesday Mugabe again condemned the strictures after his meeting with Lavrov whose country has also been targeted with sanctions by western countries over its alleged involvement in strife-torn neighbouring Ukraine.
Said Mugabe: “Take back to President Putin that we feel with him that those imposing sanctions on him have done so on us …
“That these are the evil men of our world those who go and act in defiance of international law, sanctions never approved by the UN and those falling on the Russian Federation today have not been approved by the UN and those which yesterday were imposed on us and remain on us were never approved by the UN.
“They are the works of evil men of our world who are defiant of international law and morality of international law. We stand together we will fall together.”
Former RBZ chief, and adviser to the veteran leader, Gideon Gono, indicated ahead of last year’s elections that economic recovery would need a decisive victor in the crucial vote.
Mugabe and Zanu PF delivered a landslide triumph but the economic bounce Gono suggested would follow has not transpired. Instead, companies have been closing down by the hundreds, throwing thousands onto the already huge jobless pile.
And the opposition has been quick to remind Zimbabweans that Mugabe promised them two million new jobs while campaigning last year. They also point out that the Zanu PF government’s ZimAsset economic blueprint remains stalled because no one will provide the US$27 billion needed to finance it.
Speaking after his return from China, Mugabe said he had secured funding for massive projects that would help create thousands of jobs.
“These projects will be coming … (they) can employ our young people from school boys and girls. You will be seeing them; but of course things don’t just become shining overnight,” he said.
The veteran leader also claimed that Western countries were following the deals between China and Harare with keen interest and looking to re-engage with Harare.
“I can assure you that Britain, Europe and America are already starting to get worried that they have been replaced by China.” he said.
“Now they are trying to improve relations but we’re not in a hurry.
COMMENTS
Fine. you can fall together.
Clearly a typo in that speech of the nearly dead: “We stand together, we will fall together”. I think he means “We stand together, we will FAIL together”………. Russia! Wow, all our problems will now be solved for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the, ‘we stand together we fall together,’ may be prophetic!
In a relationship that goes sour there is always the parner who is left pining for by gone days and no matter the passage of time will always carry a torch for the other. Mugabe may claim on the surface that these Russians and Chinese are hos best friends but deep down he loves his first love the West . All his relationships are meant to get noticed by the West. He wants the West to know his every kiss and cuddle with his new friends. He hopes the West will hurt like he does and he dreams that the West is Holding a torch for him too and will come knocking on his door and he will take them back.
Like in the MILLS AND BOON NOVELS
ha ha ha well said, Lucy!Bit like when a ex makes a scene of kissing his/her new partner infront of the old one.. as if to say “see, I am fine, I dont love you anymore”. Meanwhile often hoping the old flame will break down in a declaration of undying devotion.
He is indeed a bitter old man! When we allow bitterness to take root it springs up and defiles many. That bitterness has defiled an entire nation.
The thing that Mugabe fails to grasp is that the so called evil west does not need him. If you are African and living in the UK you don’t have to Queue up for meal meal. It is in abundance in the shops that cater for African residence. You get all types of fruit and food from other African countries like plantaine, casava and such. You even get chomoluer. You want to buy a diamond ring it is there cheaper than in Zimbabwe. They have cotton from all over the world.I don’t even see one thing that they would want from Zimbabwe. You get different fruit from around the world all year round.They would obviously want a relationship with Zimbabwe to have more choice which is their way. They wont bow down to him though. Mugabe is a delusional person who’s rantings are tantamount to those of a cartoon character. In short in Africa we would a popeye.
Last line is “we would call him a popeye.”
A bit delusional on the writers part when he says that sanction helped trigger our economic collapse. Dysfunctional ZANU behavior did that and this continues to be the case.
The Russian regime collapsed once before only 25 years ago because of economic isolation from the west. Putin seems bent on performing the same trick again. He cannot win he does not have the resources to do so.
Uncle Robert is selling the country at 10c on the dollar exactly as Lobengula did. At least Lobengula had the excuse that he did not know to read and write and had never been anywhere. What exactly is Roberts excuse?
Academic dear friends!
Mugarbage and ZANU
will be gone 2018!
Russia is in deep doo-doo,
huge deficits, unstable
ruble at historic low,food
at all time high, oil at all
time low and Mugabe had the
balls to snub the West.
Mugarbage loves tea and scones,
Saville Row suits, Rolls Royces,
English and taking his disgraceful]
ho on trips to Harrods and Clarudges.
The old fart is losing his marbles,
bedding with the Ruskies is a one
sided copulation – Kremlin will win!
TIBVIREI APA SEKURU, CHINGOTAURAI KUTI IF U CANT GET A LOAN FROM A HIGH ST BANK UNOTONOTSVAGA CHIMBADZO KUMAGABA.
bob marley in one of his greatest hits penned the line which says “ONCE A MAN ;TWICE A CHILD” obviously we are born and are children ,we then grow to become man ,the third phase which is that of being a child once again comes from the fact that old age makes ones mental capabilities equal to that of a child ,,,,we hear people say we are ruled by a senile 90 year old ,,,we are not ,,,we actually have a six or seven year old running the country,,,thats just about the age we also used to boast to our enemies our new freinds
Well said mdara Bob.Russians and Chinese are true friends from the war dayz.Sendekera mdara.Vana vevhu kucha kunya nekuteta kuti tisaita nzara?Nee taramba kudzokera kuRudhizha.
For a multi degreed Head of State Zimbabwe’s President has a very kindergarten grasp on the word, ‘evil.’ What does he call the brutal slaying of upwards of 20,000 Ndebele’s, the merciless destruction of thousands of homes and buildings, the violent, hate filled displacement of thousands of farmers and their work force, the plunder of all their assets and the utter chaos that has ensued and brought down an entire nation, the rigged elections, the violent and bloody 2008 elections, the hate speech, the plunder of billions of national assets and funds and so on! “You have destroyed your land and slain your people.” Isaiah 14:20
Once again this mad old man shouts out his tenuous grasp of international law. Illegal sanctions indeed!
So good… THE EAST – Russia and China are raping all the countries of Africa to manufacture goods that they will ultimately sell where…IN THE WEST! Cant see the wood for the trees some people. Who would you rather talk to…the horse or the rider????
Errr . . .
I think The Bhobho should refuse to accept any and all “AID” from The Dreaded West.
See if the bankrupt Russkies and cautious Chines will come up with some “AID” – NOT BLOODY LIKELY – HO!
And Mugabes thinks that an investment into a mine and electricity will save our economy?
This man has has the gift of the gab, but as far as economics go, he is a total fool.