 The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Robert Mugabe says no amount of legal tricks or political gimmicks will derail the country’s plans to hold elections this year.
On his 88th birthday interview with ZBC News, President Mugabe said the Global Political Agreement (GPA) has exceeded its lifespan, hence the need to get rid of it.
Under the GPA, the inclusive government was given a two year life span after which fresh elections would be held after the implementation of a number of reforms including the drawing up of a new constitution.
However, three years down the line the inclusive government is still in place, due to the slow pace of constitution making.
On several occasions, Cde Mugabe has expressed his concern at the lack of consensus among the partners in the inclusive government on some important national development programmes and projects aimed at improving livelihoods of the people.
He says the way forward is to go back to the people and seek a new mandate with or without a new constitution, to enable the winning party to implement its vision without impediments.
“We want elections, we wanted them yesterday, we want them today, we want them any day. They just must take place with or without a new constitution. On our side as a party, we have made a decision, last year at our conference that this year we definitely have an election exercise,” said the Cde Mugabe.
The President expressed disappointment at those taking part in the constitution making process who he said are dragging their feet and holding the country at ransom.
He however said if this continues, his party will pull out of the inclusive government, reminding the nation that under the principal law, he has the power to call for elections should any of the parties decide to pull out of the agreement.
“All I am saying is that Zanu PF will withdraw from the GPA if others continue with these dirty tricks. We can’t have them anymore. I will exercise my presidential powers in accordance with the main principal law, the Constitution of our country and announce when the election will take place,” President Mugabe said.
The President accused his counterparts in the inclusive government of dishonesty and dining with the enemy by continuously lobbying for the extension of illegal sanctions on the pretext that Zanu PF has not given way in a manner that will facilitate regime change.
“The MDC decides to side with the Americans, with the Europeans in supporting sanctions against its own people. We do not understand that. They fail to, they find it very difficult, to say sanctions are hurting us,” he added.
He said the MDC formations are failing to draw lessons from the fact that the country’s former colonisers will never work in the interests of Zimbabwe.
Analysts say besides the illegal sanctions card which has reduced the majority of Zimbabweans to poverty, the MDC formations have no other agenda to take to the people in face of elections.
Despite the illegal sanctions, Cde Mugabe expressed optimism that the country’s economy will continue growing, owing to the licensing of additional diamond mines.
He said the licensing of additional mines in Marange will increase the mining sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
President Mugabe said not much has come from the diamond sector due to hindrances being put up by the US in the marketing and selling of Marange diamonds.
The country’s diamond sector which is expected to contribute at least US$600 million to the US$4 billion 2012 National Budget has been singled out as critical in the resurgence of the economy.
The President concluded his speech by urging Zimbabweans, especially youth to remain resilient in the face of these trying times facing the nation.
Youths should have good moral values and embrace the country’s history in order to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, said the President.
Cde Mugabe, who is an advocate for indigenisation and empowerment, called on the youths to actively participate in the ongoing indigenisation and economic empowerment drive.
Cde Mugabe said as the future of the economy, youths must embrace the government policy by embarking on self employment projects that can earn them a living.
Read also: President's interview
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