Mugabe says Zim will never return to ‘evil’ Commonwealth

HARARE – Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe yesterday vowed that his country would never return to the “evil” Commonwealth from which it pulled out last year, as he celebrated his country’s 24th year of independence from British rule.

“We shall never go back to this evil organisation,” Mugabe told tens of thousands of people gathered for celebrations at a giant sports stadium in the capital Harare. Mugabe said Zimbabwe quit the Commonwealth grouping of mainly former British colonies, because of attempts to “enslave us, to make us puppets”.”When we left we did not say we shall return, the door through which we left is now locked,” he told a cheering crowd, comprising mainly of his supporters.Cabinet ministers, lawmakers and foreign diplomats were also present at the huge gathering.Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth because the 2002 presidential elections, which returned Mugabe to power, were deemed unfair.Angry at a Commonwealth decision to prolong the suspension at a Commonwealth Heads of State summit in Nigeria, Mugabe pulled his country out of the club of mainly former British colonies on December 7.Mugabe yesterday warned that Zimbabwe’s membership to organisations “outside the continent and the United Nations is strictly on principles of equality and mutual respect.”We will never allow our membership of these organisations to be used against our own interest,” or “the interest of our neighbours.”We will not compromise our principles of freedom and national sovereignty no matter who gets upset.”Zimbabwe will not be for the convenience and pleasure of any country.Zimbabwe will never be a colony again, never, ever ever.”Mugabe said he was willing to work with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change – which alleged that the 2002 presidential polls were marred by fraud and intimidation – if they stopped being double-faced.”Why we are uncomfortable with the MDC is that they are two-faced.On one side they say they are Zimbabweans, but they go overseas calling for sanctions, for their country to be placed under sanctions,” he said.”They must walk the same road, the Zimbabwe road… to seek solutions.Solutions do not come from the (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair, power to rule the country does not come from (US President George) Bush, power comes from the people here.- Nampa-AFPMugabe said Zimbabwe quit the Commonwealth grouping of mainly former British colonies, because of attempts to “enslave us, to make us puppets”.”When we left we did not say we shall return, the door through which we left is now locked,” he told a cheering crowd, comprising mainly of his supporters.Cabinet ministers, lawmakers and foreign diplomats were also present at the huge gathering.Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth because the 2002 presidential elections, which returned Mugabe to power, were deemed unfair.Angry at a Commonwealth decision to prolong the suspension at a Commonwealth Heads of State summit in Nigeria, Mugabe pulled his country out of the club of mainly former British colonies on December 7.Mugabe yesterday warned that Zimbabwe’s membership to organisations “outside the continent and the United Nations is strictly on principles of equality and mutual respect.”We will never allow our membership of these organisations to be used against our own interest,” or “the interest of our neighbours.”We will not compromise our principles of freedom and national sovereignty no matter who gets upset.”Zimbabwe will not be for the convenience and pleasure of any country.Zimbabwe will never be a colony again, never, ever ever.”Mugabe said he was willing to work with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change – which alleged that the 2002 presidential polls were marred by fraud and intimidation – if they stopped being double-faced.”Why we are uncomfortable with the MDC is that they are two-faced.On one side they say they are Zimbabweans, but they go overseas calling for sanctions, for their country to be placed under sanctions,” he said.”They must walk the same road, the Zimbabwe road… to seek solutions.Solutions do not come from the (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair, power to rule the country does not come from (US President George) Bush, power comes from the people here.- Nampa-AFP