Mugabe vows to crush opposition protests

HARARE – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday vowed to crush opposition protests as he hit back at a call for “democratic resistance” in his country.

“Some of you say they want to go out on the streets and protest,” Mugabe told thousands of mourners who gathered at a shrine on Harare’s outskirts for the burial of his long-time bodyguard. “That’s not the way to go.It will never happen.We will not allow it,” he told the crowd, adding: “If they are looking for death, let them go ahead and follow that route.””I mean you, Tsvangirai, and your MDC [the opposition Movement for Democratic Change],” Mugabe added.Once posing the greatest threat to Mugabe’s 26-year rule in the crises-hit Southern African country, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party split late last year over his decision to boycott Senate elections.Tsvangirai, who was elected to lead one of the MDC’s two splinter factions, called for “peaceful, democratic resistance” at a party conference last month.”The dictator must brace himself for a long, bustling winter across the country.The bustle should lead us to a bright political season.A storm is on the horizon,” he told thousands of supporters.Tsvangirai did not say in what form and when the protests would take place, but urged Zimbabweans to stock up provisions in anticipation of the action.Mugabe said his bodyguard Winston Changara, who was buried and declared a national hero, was driven by white Rhodesians to join the country’s liberation movement.Changara, who headed Zimbabwe’s police protection unit since the early 1980s, died in Harare on Monday.- Nampa-AFP”That’s not the way to go.It will never happen.We will not allow it,” he told the crowd, adding: “If they are looking for death, let them go ahead and follow that route.””I mean you, Tsvangirai, and your MDC [the opposition Movement for Democratic Change],” Mugabe added.Once posing the greatest threat to Mugabe’s 26-year rule in the crises-hit Southern African country, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party split late last year over his decision to boycott Senate elections.Tsvangirai, who was elected to lead one of the MDC’s two splinter factions, called for “peaceful, democratic resistance” at a party conference last month.”The dictator must brace himself for a long, bustling winter across the country. The bustle should lead us to a bright political season.A storm is on the horizon,” he told thousands of supporters.Tsvangirai did not say in what form and when the protests would take place, but urged Zimbabweans to stock up provisions in anticipation of the action.Mugabe said his bodyguard Winston Changara, who was buried and declared a national hero, was driven by white Rhodesians to join the country’s liberation movement.Changara, who headed Zimbabwe’s police protection unit since the early 1980s, died in Harare on Monday.- Nampa-AFP