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UK, US tried to incite a mutiny by Zimbabwe armed forces, says Mugabe

by Staff reporter
15 Aug 2012 at 06:34hrs | Views
BRITAIN and the United States of America tried to incite a mutiny by Zimbabwe's armed forces through the imposition of sanctions, President Robert Mugabe said on Tuesday.

But Mugabe said Zimbabwe's military had stayed loyal by becoming an "active agent in coming up with reliable defence mechanisms... and responsive solutions to such unjustified and provocative manoeuvres in the internal affairs of a sovereign state."

Mugabe also appealed to Zimbabweans to remain focused and to jealously defend the country and its natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Addressing thousands of people who gathered at the National Sports Stadium to commemorate Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day this Tuesday, President Mugabe said Zimbabweans should be wary of foreign forces that come as friends but having ulterior motives. Mugabe said western sanctions on Zimbabwe had weakened the economy and forced cuts to the defence budget.

The sanctions were designed to squeeze the Zimbabwe government and trigger disaffection within the ranks of the military, Mugabe told the gathering which was also attended by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

"However, these sinister manoeuvres were successfully resisted thanks to the combined effort, grit and resilience of the people of Zimbabwe, the defence forces, other law enforcement agencies and the country's political leadership," Mugabe said.

"I want to appeal to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, other security organisations and all progressive Zimbabweans to remain focused, loyal and patriotic to the noble spirit of jealously defending Zimbabwe and its rich natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

"We should join hands to resist the unjustified plunder of our resources by undeserving foreign forces that come to us like friends in the name of democracy and globalisation, yet they harbour sinister ulterior motives."

Mugabe commended the ZDF for defending the country against foreign aggression and thanked the people of Zimbabwe for resisting attempts by Britain and its allies to incite people to revolt against the government and effect regime change, through imposing illegal sanctions on the country.

The President said the defence forces are fully equipped to deal with any threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, adding that the professionalism and determination displayed by the security forces has seen the country continue to actively participate in the United Nations peace keeping missions.

The United States imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2001 and the European Union followed a year later, accusing Mugabe â€" who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 â€" of human rights abuses and election fraud.

Mugabe denies the charges and instead accuses former colonial power Britain of forming an international alliance against Zimbabwe as a response to his land reform programme which saw the forcible take-over of farms from white land owners to resettle landless blacks.

Source - Byo24News