Conservatives are more charitable than Mr Tony Blair says Mugabe

President Mugabe said Zimbabwe wants elections observers who will not have any choice on who to assist and who not to assist. He said this while receiving letters of credence from the new British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Deborah Bronnert at State House on Thursday.

Mr Jeitendar Kumar Tripathi (India), Ms Marcia Maro Da Silvaa (Brazil), Mr Mamman Nuhu (Nigera), Mr Hans-Guenter Hermann Gnodtke (Germany) and Mr Mohamed Sheij Saleh (Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic) also presented their credentials.

Mugabe said: "We want observers who will not have any choice on who to assist and who not to assist. We abhor meddling in our own electoral affairs. Britain should not be involved in such a campaign whether in our favour as Zanu-PF or against us. If there are to be any culprits, let it be others not the British."

"All I am pleading for is that please help us to have elections which are free from outside interest."

He said dates for elections will be decided fairly without ambushing other political parties.

President Mugabe was responding to an inquiry by Ambassador Bronnert on whether the UK and the EU would be allowed to observe national elections.

"How can we invite people who have imposed sanctions on us to be our observers? By imposing sanctions those people have demonstrated dislike of one side. I hope Madam Ambassador, you are not suggesting that by not being invited to observe our elections, it means the elections will not be free and fair," he said.

President Mugabe went on to implore the British Government to remove the sanctions it imposed on Zimbabwe saying the two countries were not enemies.

"Sanctions, we continue to suffer to this day. Sanctions, we are asking you to take care of. We do not deserve them at all. The Conservatives should remove them," he said.

Added President Mugabe: "If Britain does not want to assist Zimbabwe, they should leave us alone. We will find our way out but you must remove sanctions. I am sure you (Conservatives) are more charitable than Mr (Tony) Blair. You are Conservatives after all, not Labour . . . We have not quarrelled with Conservatives but if the Conservatives continue to implement Labour policies on sanctions then they are doing injustice to us and to themselves."

He reminded Ambassador Bronnert that it was under the Conservatives that Zimbabwe got its independence.

"We are friendly. We do not harm anyone so please help us, I plead. We do not deserve sanctions. We are not enemies with Britain at all in spite of all that has happened. We may dislike what has happened, yes, but we are not enemies.

"Enemies with (Mr) Blair, yes. And we damn him here. Sing against him here," President Mugabe said.

The President said he was now being labelled such names as dictator for embarking on the land reform programme.

"The British and Americans are saying Mugabe must go. Where do you want me to go, to London? You do not want me there either. I am going nowhere. I have a party to run," he said.

The President noted that the coming in of Prime Minister David Cameron into office was good basis for re-engagement.

Ambassador Bronnert told President Mugabe that the British Government was "prepared to work with any Government that emerges after elections" whether it was Zanu-PF or the MDC formations.

She revealed that PM Cameron had indicated to her that Zimbabwe was "a country of great importance to the UK" and "wanted briefings on accurate developments here every week".

The ambassador also relayed to President Mugabe Queen Elizabeth's warm greetings.

Addressing journalists at State House, Ambassador Bronnert said she was "delighted to be coming to Zimbabwe and was looking forward to working with all sides" and to "encourage the full implementation of the GPA and the holding of free and fair elections".

Ambassador Tripathi pledged to improve the already good relations between India and Zimbabwe.

"We already have good relations with Zimbabwe. I hope to strengthen and cement relations between the two rising democracies," he said.

He singled out mining, agriculture and information technology as some of the areas his country was interested in exploring during his tenure.

Ambassador Tripathi said a high-powered Indian business delegation led by Minister of Commerce would visit Zimbabwe to explore investment opportunities this month.

Incoming Brazilian envoy Ms Da Silvaa said companies in her country were interested in investing in the agriculture, energy and mining sectors.

She said Brazil has invested in Mozambique and Angola and "there is no reason not to come here".
Ambassador Nuhu of Nigeria pledged to revive political and economic relations between Lagos and Harare.

Ambassador Gnodtke of Germany echoed the same sentiments.

"I am sure Zimbabwe and Germany relations will go back to where they used to be," he said.
Saharawi's Ambassador Saleh briefed the President on political developments in his country.