Mugabe Denounces Britain in Zimbabwe Independence Day Speech
By VOA News
18 April 2008
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe marked the country's independence day Friday with a speech denouncing former colonial ruler Britain.
Mr. Mugabe delivered the address in front of thousands of supporters at a sports stadium outside Harare. It was his first major speech since Zimbabwe's disputed March 29 elections.
Mr. Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since it claimed independence from Britain in 1980, has accused his rival, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of working with Britain to overthrow the current government. Britain and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change deny the claim.
Mr. Tsvangirai is calling for South African President Thabo Mbeki to step aside as a mediator in the political crisis, and to let his Zambian counterpart, Levy Mwanawasa, take over.
Despite intense international pressure, Zimbabwe's election commission has released no official results of the presidential ballot.
Mr. Mbeki had been serving as a mediator in Zimbabwe well before the March 29 election, but he was unable to resolve bitter disputes between the MDC, and the ruling ZANU PF party.
Mr. Tsvangirai said in a British radio interview that his party held secret talks with Mr. Mugabe's ZANU PF supporters about forming a government of national unity following last month's election. The two sides were close to striking a deal, the MDC leader said, but discussions broke down suddenly.
The MDC says Mr. Tsvangirai defeated President Mugabe last month with a clear majority of the vote. Independent monitors agreed, but they said Mr. Tsvangirai may have fallen short of a majority, and thus a run-off ballot might be needed.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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