July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Wednesday, July 25, 2001 - Web posted at 14:01:39 GMT

Zimbabwe's Mugabe urges "cowards" to quit cabinet

HARARE - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has called on "cowards" to quit his cabinet, saying he is not prepared to work with ministers who are unable to face political and economic challenges.

Mugabe told guests at a state luncheon after the opening of a new session of parliament on Tuesday that he could only work with "real men", the government-owned Herald newspaper reported on Wednesday.

In his first public comment on the resignation of Industry and International Trade Minister Nkosana Moyo earlier this year, Mugabe said Moyo had got cold feet.

"There is no minister of industry and commerce at the moment. The one who was there developed cold feet and ran away," Mugabe said. "I do not want ministers who are in the habit of running away. I want those I can call amadoda sibili (real men), people with spine."

Moyo did not give his reasons for resigning in April, but his associates said he was frustrated with Mugabe's leadership, especially after militant ruling ZANU-PF party supporters began invading businesses and extorting money.

Mugabe, 77, who led a guerrilla war for independence, said there had been no room for cowards in the country's liberation struggle and that there was none now in his political programme.

"If some of you (cabinet ministers) are getting weak-kneed, tell us and we will continue with the struggle," he said.

Mugabe is battling a severe economic crisis, which many blame on government mismanagement.

Political analysts say he faces his most serious challenge since coming to power at independence from Britain in 1980 in next year's presidential elections.

Mugabe, who says his political and economic problems are a result of sabotage by opponents, denied Zimbabwe is facing food shortages, and said the country's economy would never collapse.

Finance Minister Simba Makoni has warned of food shortages, saying there is no money in the country's budget for imports.

Many blame the looming shortages on a poor harvest and the invasion of white-owned commercial farms by Mugabe's supporters.

Mugabe said on Tuesday his government's programme to seize white-owned farms for redistribution to landless blacks had been recognised around the world as just and reasonable. Nampa-Reuters

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