13
Mr. Mugabe do this! My foot! Let him measure his size. Even by height I am
taller. He may have a bigger belly than mine I concede that. By intellect I don’t
know. I leave the people to make their judgment. But you have seen what
intellect they have, the MDC. They think only of violence, stay aways. But what
policies do they have for the development of this country? What do they have for
the people on the plate? For the development of the country, the construction of
the economy? We are yet to see their constructive thinking. It’s negative,
negative, negative. They tell me two negatives make a positive but these are not
two. They are three, four, five, six, ten! Those create chaos. (Source: ZBC
21/03/2003 transcribed by Media Monitoring Project, Zimbabwe.)
In April 2006, he threatened to bring down “the full wrath of the law” against anyone who
disturbs Zimbabwean peace and stability. The threat came after calls by the country’s main
opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, for street protests to topple Mugabe’s 26-year rule.
“Anyone who dares go against the law, ... dares lead any group of persons to
embark on a campaign of violence or terrorist activity, will be inviting the full
wrath of the law to descend mercilessly on him and, or on those who follow
him.” (Source: Mail and Guardian 19 April 2006.)
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meeting at the party’s headquarters in Harare. He said:
“Let them take heed of our free advice that any sinister efforts
designed to challenge the authority of Government through any illegal way
will meet the full wrath of our law. Those who will engage in it will
naturally be dealt with. We shall not sit back and allow any group of persons to
circumvent the democratic process and aspire to power through illegitimate and
unconstitutional means. Those who seek to run the country must get to the
seat of government by engaging the people through an election. Any other
means is rebellious and shall be treated as such.” (Source:
Zimbabwejournalists.com, 15 July 2006)
On 18 May 2006, speaking at the country’s 26th birthday celebrations, President Mugabe
threatened MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, saying any effort to force him out of power would be
“dicing with death”. Security forces were placed on high alert.
(Source: Zimonline 11 April 2006)
On 30 May 2006 in response to MDC plans to stage peaceful mass protests he said:
“We hear others say we want to go into the streets to demonstrate, to
unseat a legitimately elected government. It will never happen and we will
never allow it. If a person now wants to invite his own death, let him go ahead.”
(Source: Zimonline 1 April 2006)
On 15 August 2006, speaking in praise of the army during the Defences Forces Day in Harare, he
Their words condemn them:
The language of violence, intolerance and despotism in Zimbabwe.
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