PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday opened the First Session of the Seventh Parliament of Zimbabwe urging all Zimbabweans to rekindle the spirit of national pride and self-belief and help in building a strong, united and prosperous Zimbabwe.
Opposition MPs decided to show up to parliament despite an earlier threat to boycott the proceedings over the deadlocked talks ─ a move considered by critics as recognition of President Mugabe’s authority as Head of State.
A spokesman for the MDC-T party had earlier indicated that the opening of breached a Memorandum of Understanding signed by main parties ahead of power-sharing talks.
The First Session took place months after the country's first harmonised elections of March 29 and ended with a run-off Presidential election on June 27 which was boycotted by MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
During his address, President Mugabe was optimistic that a deal would be reached by the main parties to create an all-inclusive government. President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa is currently mediating in talks to find a solution to the political and economic crisis bedeviling the country. His mandate to mediate comes from the regional Southern Africa Development Community and was endorsed by the African Union.
President Mugabe urged all parties to collaborate in finding a solution to the recovery of the economy. He said that “through constructive mutual engagement and by putting the country first, we can, as Zimbabweans, address problems and challenges on our own.”
He added: “The new dispensation of collaboration across the political divide should now see us single-mindedly devoting our energies towards the recovery of our economy.”
He paid “special tribute” to President Mbeki for his “outstanding role” as mediator of the inter-party talks saying that his efforts have led to “landmark agreements” being concluded as a precursor to forming an all-inclusive government.
President Mugabe also indicated that both his Zanu PF party and the opposition MDC were to blame for the violence that occurred days after the March 29 election and in the run-up to the June 29 presidential run-off election. He said “Happily, all political parties in the country have acknowledged culpability in this violence, itself an important step towards putting behind us the odious habit of election-related violence.”
He reiterating the fact that his Presidency was unchallenged, as he had won the June 27 election, President Mugabe said the “elections are now behind us” urging all parties to work together and put their differences aside.
The president also criticized the West for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe saying this was a move aimed “to subvert the will of the Zimbabwean people.” He said the sanctions “must go” urging “true Zimbabweans (to) speak against them in deafening unison”.
President Mugabe also indicated that the empowerment exercise started last year will continue with the “expeditious tabling of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill in Parliament, which seeks to broaden participation in the sector by indigenous players.”
The Bill will spell out the level of participation of indigenous Zimbabweans in the sector. An Empowerment Act was passed last year effectively giving indigenous Zimbabweans a 51 per cent stake in all businesses. Critics in industry say the percentage is likely to be lower in the mining sector, but will give Zimbabweans a huge and influential stake in mining.
The President also said there was “still need to ensure that our education remains globally competitive as well as relevant to national needs,” adding that Zimbabwe aimed to be a knowledge-driven and globally competitive economy.
He also attacked corrupt officials saying that corruption was imposing a huge burden on the Zimbabwean economy adding that initiatives to revive the economy will “remain a pipedream unless they are supported by stern and decisive action to eradicate the scourge of corruption, which has now reached alarming levels”.
President Mugabe also called on member countries of the United Nations, to keep calling for its reform “in order to render it truly representative of its broad constituency”.
He criticized the current structure of the august body saying it allows for “stronger nations (to) tread over the rights of smaller nations and manipulate the United Nations mechanisms with impunity constitutes a grave threat to international peace” adding that Zimbabwe was recently “a victim of this not only cynical but abusive manipulation of the UN Charter.”
The president was referring to the efforts by Britain, the US and their allies to bring Zimbabwe onto the UN Security Council – a move effectively blocked by South Africa and the two veto wielding countries, Russia and China.
Britain’s diplomatic strategy in Zimbabwe collapsed early July when Russia and China wielded their veto to kill a resolution imposing UN sanctions on President Mugabe and his inner circle in a defining vote in the 15-nation council. The two countries argued that they were stopping the Britain, the US and their allies from “meddling in the internal affairs of a UN member state”.
Criticizing what he termed an “their unholy policy of global encroachment” President Mugabe said the West’s actions will “undermine the status quo or even re-ignite a new arms race”.
Recently we have witnessed a stepping up of hostility between Russia and the US over Georgia. Russia is threatening a military response to the deployment of an American missile defense system in Poland, which was once within the Kremlin's zone of control. Russia’s President, Medvedev said although he was not seeking a resumption of the Cold War, his country was "not afraid" of such an outcome.
President Mugabe also urged “all Zimbabweans to rekindle the spirit of national pride and self-belief as we strive to build a strong, united and prosperous Zimbabwe” adding that all people of Zimbabwe should exert “full effort towards raising our country and its flag in the manner our Olympic team has done in Beijing.”
He ended by congratulating the Olympic Team and especially Kirsty Coventry, “most heartily on that heroic performance.”
Musorowegomo mukosi weToronto • musorowabhobho@yahoo.com Subject: Nova, Edinburgh...zvichakunetsa Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:38:59 • I tend to differ on you brother...Who do you say , lets now live happily here...do you think the land issue had been addressed ...people are still living like monkeys & hyenas kuZaka neKwachivi...while the few political demi gods are sharing dozens of areable land pachaco vega...i totally agree the idea of removing British settlers from the Lands ...coz they grabbed it from our fore fathers...but to say the excersise has been completed will be any understatement..we still have more to do to ensure that real Zimbabweans are moving kubva mumakomo mavanogara seNguruve ,,,while we have very liveable grounds which is underutillised by some big wheels
There is still a meandering road to happiness my brother
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots! Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:29:25 • The level of hooliganism demonstrated by those who are Mentally Deluded by Colonialists (MDC) demonstrates clearly why this entity should be disband a long time ago, and its leaders confined or exiled!
Magnanimous Mugabe, as usual, showed much restraint .... FOR NOW!
The world should pay heed.
This kind of undignified beast behavior is learned from their lying for too long with the beastly and evil Europeans.
These self-hating and self-destructive African mental slaves demonstrated the indignity and divisiveness encouraged by their beastly 'divide and rule' European masters.
Any Zimbabwean who would allow such hooligans as their leader, has to be hanging his head in shame. And such a Zimbabwean will do well to withdraw any support for such hooligans.
The lost leaders of the MDC have taken their social disturbance from the society at large all the way to the Parliament.
Zim Patriots have to be patient even with those who are Mentally Deluded by Colonialists (MDC), in order to see if any is redeemable.
However, no one should get too deluded and carried away: Zim Patriots WILL maintain Law, Order and Justice EVERYWHERE in the nation!
Onward, Zimbos, to African Self-determination, Self-development, Self-sufficiency and Self-reliance!
Nova, Edinburgh • na. Subject: REALITY CHECK! Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:16:46 • When you compare that 4 percent of the whites own 90 percent of the land in South Africa as reported in the BBC today, you realise just how far Zimbabwe has evolved.
Let us all now live happily ever after in Zimbabwe!
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