via Zimbabweans criticise Mugabe’s independence speech | SW Radio Africa by Mthulisi Mathuthu on Tuesday, April 22, 2014
On Friday Mugabe lashed out at what he called Europe’s ‘homosexual nonsense’ and condemned its leaders for refusing to accept his hold on power. He also threatened to deport Western diplomats if they promote gay rights in Zimbabwe.
In a one and a half long tirade, Mugabe dared the opposition to organize protests against his rule. The Zimbabwean strongman who turned 90 years of age in February threatened that his fist can pack 90 tonnes of force if pushed against the wall. The warning against street action follows calls for nationwide protests by the MDC-T youth wing over rising poverty in the face of high level corruption, company closures and unemployment.
Harare-based SW Radio Africa correspondent, Simon Muchemwa said Mugabe’s speech showed that he had no idea how to solve the challenges facing the common man, and that he wasn’t even interested in doing so. Muchemwa said the people wanted to hear Mugabe’s solutions to rampant corruption, rising unemployment and poverty, not the same tired rhetoric.
Muchemwa added: ‘The feeling in the country is that Mugabe’s speech proved his inability to guide the country through challenging situations. The feeling is that he lives in the past. The issue of gays is certainly not one which anybody wanted to hear in the face of difficulties the country is facing.’
The Combined Harare Residents Association spokesman, Simbarashe Moyo, said instead of threatening people with violence Mugabe should honor the promises he made to the people ahead of the July 31st elections. He said: ‘If he is unable to deliver, as citizens we have every right to protest because that is legal. We have a right to protest in terms of the constitution.’
Moyo added: ‘Unfortunately, Mugabe’s speech proves that he is more of a violent leader than he is a problem solver.
This year’s independence celebrations came at a time when experts are predicting an implosion if nothing is done to address the economic problems. Last week many people, including respected war veterans, said the conditions Zimbabweans are living in at the moment are not those of a free people. The ZANU PF government is clearly failing to improve service delivery and to improve civil servants’ salaries as promised ahead of last year’s polls.
Mugabe’s speech also coincided with a BBC television interview in which he claimed that his monthly salary was only $4,000. Much to the viewers’ surprise the interviewer failed to ask Mugabe how, if his salary was that modest, he had financed his daughter’s wedding a few months ago. Bona’s wedding is said to have cost $5 million.
In the same interview, Mugabe claimed that Britain had lost its might and standing in the world because it was now led by people with ‘gay tendencies.’
COMMENTS
HE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE ECONOMY! WHO CARES WHAT PEOPLE DO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS! SPOUSE SNATCHERS, PERHAPS!
He has nothing to offer except violence, hopefully the army and police will see reason and not take part in any more abuse of the people.
The time for these political Dinasaurs is long gone. Now is the time to show send them into extinction.
I would rather have a gay President who knows how to run the economy, respect human rights, and treat his citizens with respect.
I hope it is not only analysts who see the wholes in mugabe’s speeches because, honestly, this has been mugabe’s modus operandum for quite some time now. Attacking foreign coutries that may have nothing to do with the work at hand and issues that do not solve the country’s problems.
Even if we killed all the gays, would people have food on their tables. Even if the British were to become a stronger kingdom, would our people end up with jobs in Zimbabwe. The old man should know most of his country’s citizens don’t are not impressed by violence or talk of might and power while they have no welfare to talk about.
Gays should be left alone but the practice must not be encouraged. Even God who created them respect their choices. However wife snatching, philanderers, padeophilia, homosexuality and adultery all comes down to what is termed sexually immolarity. The word of God has predicted that it will happen in the last days. Mugabe should not claim high moral ground as a champion in good moral standards. The issue of the economy is more paramount instead of wasting time on issues that ultimately only God can judge. In any case how many heterosexual couples engage in anal sex already in the country. Mugabe must wake up now, there is a sexual revolution all around us deny it or hate it this is the reality. Otherwise his own daughter is getting hard-core anal and enjoying every bit of it right as we speak. Would this not be the same as what gays do. I am not justifying homos but lets rationalise things.
There is every reason to suspect the Mugabe protests too much about gays. The effete hand gestures (when he still had control of his body), the mincing walk when he was happy.
Come on Bob you can come out of the closet now. It must be so hard hiding your true self all your life. Your presidency makes complete sense if we understand that you have been denying who you really are your whole life long.
The spiteful bitterness and vindictiveness that have characterised your entire career, the manipulative personality, the strange friends you have (Banana, Moyo et al) are all indicative of a closeted gay
I vote we export you to be a gay pride mascot at gay pride parades around the world.
Hahahaha. Classic.
This is what DICTATORS do, with a lot of threats compounded by their speeches. Just imagine the sufferings that the people in Tokwe-Mukosi are going through, and on their disgruntlement, the riot squad was already in positions to silence them. In any case what would you expect from a brainwashed Border Gezi graduate. It is high time people should say enough is enough to this skeleton. Tichamutya kusvikira afa here murume uyu. Lets rise up and demolish dictatorship. We have suffered more than enough. Do we owe him anything?
Evil to the core! And utterly spiteful. What a wonderful leader we have????? Wake up ZPF. You will go down with him!
A one and a half hour lesson on how to destroy an entire nation and how to stick pins in a voodoo doll to exert maxim suffering on a people.
Mthulisi Mathuthu, you say that “Zimbabweans” condem Mugabe speach, but you have only referenced 2 people… Should your heading not say “2 Zimbabweans condem Mugabe speach?” I am merely commenting on your journalistic merit here. I feel you should have gotten a wider pool of opinion…. Thats all… Its sad that we have lost professionalism in every corner of this country… From the media, journalists, ruling party officials, Opposition party officials, government, police EVEN the courts. The problem with the country is bigger than just Mugabe and a handful of his crew… We have ALL let Zimbabwe down. When the old man goes, we are going to be bitterly disappointed…
These Shonas voted for him as a son of the soil in 1980 when they were drunk with anti-Ndebele tribalism.
Why are they complaining now? You created this monster, live with it!!
Buchman-turner you are an idiot, an imbecile, a fool and a bam
mutakura
REALITY CHECK: You voted for a gukurahundi thug in 1980, PERIOD. Live with this reality and enjoy it.
I totally agree with u, the problems zimbabwe face is a direct result of the people of this countries inability to work towards improving our lives, we have become a nation of blamers, the political parties blame each other, civil rights societies blame gvt, the ordinary man blames mugabe, but in honest truth us as a people of a nation have not put forth any objective solutions to our current crisis. If we know corruption is a problem lets talk objectively on how to stop it, if we know unemployment is a problem lets also talk objectively on how to solve that problem and all other problems and lets stop playing the blame game as the more we procrastinate on the fundamental issues of zimbabwes actual resuccitation and survival the more we suffer on a day to day basis