Never will we go back on our victory,' says Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe says his party will not yield its victory in elections that although disputed were endorsed by African observers and conducted without the violence that marred previous polls.

In his first public speech since the 31 July elections, Mugabe spoke on Monday at the annual Heroes' Day gathering that honours guerrillas killed in the war for independence in 1980 at a national shrine outside Harare.

Zimbabwe's 31 July polls gave Mugabe 61% of the vote, trailed by outgoing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai with 34%.

The 89-year-old president said Zimbabweans voted freely: "We are delivering democracy on a platter. Never will we go back on our victory."

Tsvangirai, who is challenging the poll results in court and alleges widespread rigging, stayed away from Monday's gathering.