'Mandela refused to see Bush because the pink man could not think,' says Mugabe

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe yesterday ended his party's 14th annual people's conference with a scathing attack on the West and its leaders, branding them "fools".

While the Zanu PF strongman took aim at former American president George W. Bush, the broadside came as United States ambassador Bruce Wharton had, among other diplomats, attended the party's Chinhoyi conference at the weekend.

"The Bible clearly stated that God created man, but there are some who would have wanted it to read 'God made white man'," Mugabe thundered in his customary tirades.

"Let no other nation fool you because they are pink and you are black. They think that they are superior but they are dumb fools," he said, adding Zanu PF will never return to its 2008 losses and humiliation at the hands of the opposition.

In a startling revelation, Mugabe - turning 90 early next year - said the late South African president Nelson Mandela, to be buried in his rural Qunu home town today, refused to entertain Bush because he was a fool.

"Mandela refused to see Bush because the pink man could not think," he said to thunderous applause from delegates, who included government ministers, security service chiefs and other diplomats.

In the long winding speech and remarks, Mugabe also pleaded with party supporters "to go back and strengthen structures".

"We want organic structures that tell… members belong to the party, they stand for the party (and) in support of it," he said.

The call came as the ex-liberation movement is riddled with factionalism, which the party's key central committee and politburo organs have said are causing havoc in 50-year-old party.

As a result of these internecine fights, the party's recently-held provincial elections were marred by allegations of rigging and vote-buying such that party heavyweights have been publicly trading insults in the media.

And as the succession-linked factional fights escalate, some officials have recently told the Daily News on Sunday's sister paper the Daily News that they have "beefed up security after receiving death threats".

The rifts have reached alarming levels ahead of an elective congress next year, which is likely to determine those who will take over from him and eventually represent the party in the 2018 election.

A more than upbeat Mugabe also took the opportunity to thank supporters for the July 31 electoral victory promising to deliver on electoral promises through ZimAsset.

On the other hand, analysts say the economic blue print is nothing more than bottled smoke as it has neither time lines nor supporting budgets.

"It is your support which has really made me, those in Britain and those in America fear me. Ndakangomira zvangu ndakadai. If I go to international meetings, ana Bush vanotiza (Bush runs away from me). Truly they run away, I don't know what they run away from. Instead of discussing they run away," Mugabe said.

"Instead of discussing, they run away, countries are even afraid to invite me because they fear that if they invite me others will not come. Some even ask if Mugabe is coming."

The Zanu PF leader said he could not understand why people were so afraid of him because he did not fight any one - quipping the last time he had ever been involved in fist-fight was when he was a cattle-herder in rural Zvimba.

Mugabe, who has held onto power since the country attained independence in 1980, urged party supporters to hold onto to their recent victory and ensure that the liberation movement remains in power.

"Zanu PF will never again go back to the time of 2008, 2010 and 2012. You will fight for Zanu PF to remain in power. ZimAsset is our programme of action for the people and we will not fail you," he said.

After his 2008 defeat by Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, Mugabe won a disputed runoff but was forced into a unity government which lasted for five years, which he described on Friday as a "tortuous" period.