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President Mugabe

From Mabasa Sasa at the United Nations
PRESIDENT Mugabe on Monday took the United States and its leader, Barack Obama, to task for paying lip service to the tenets of international justice, drawing much applause at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The typically highly-charged address, much-appreciated by delegates, saw President Mugabe – who is the Chairman of the African Union, challenging the US leader a few hours after Obama had addressed the same gathering and made it clear that Washington would not hesitate to deploy military force anywhere in the world.

President Mugabe’s remarks were within the context of Zimbabwe-US relations, the instability in the Middle East and the refugee crises in Europe spawned by Western interference in other parts of the world, particularly Africa and Asia.

“We invite other countries with which we may have differences with, and the US and Nato powers are included, if they have differences of whatever nature, to eschew threats, pressures and punitive actions, in favour of reconciliation, friendship and dialogue.

“I therefore denounce, in the strongest terms, the illegal sanctions that are imposed on my country by the European Union and the USA and call for their immediate and unconditional removal.

“We don’t know what wrong we have done to the United States, and can they leave us free and independent to do that which we want to do.

“We don’t want war, we don’t want interference, we don’t want to hear of regime change at all. Once more, I put it on record that my country is desirous to live in harmony with all countries – big and small,” he said to applause.

He drew more applause when he focused on the chaos in the Middle East that has been caused in no small part by US adventurism there.

“In the Middle East, the suffering of the Palestinian people continues unabated. What does Mr Obama say about that? We reiterate our unwavering support to the just cause of the Palestinian people. Do we agree Mr United States?

“We also reiterate that lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through negotiations to achieve a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders. We are concerned by the increase in tensions in that region, and urge the United Nations to assume its responsibility and bring an end to this senseless conflict.”

Not to be omitted was censure for the West to try and smuggle into general circulation what have been called gay rights. President Mugabe said, “In that regard, we reject the politicisation … and application of double standards to victimise those who dare to think and act independently of the self-anointed prefects of our time.

“We equally reject attempts to prescribe ‘new rights’ that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. We are not gay! Cooperation and respect for each other will advance the cause of human rights worldwide. Confrontation, vilification and double standards will not.”