WORLD> Africa
Mugabe says Zimbabwe will never collapse
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-20 14:26
Harare -- Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has said Zimbabwe will never collapse and any military intervention will be a threat to the country's stability, ZBC News reported on Saturday.

Speaking at the official opening of the 10th Zanu-PF People's Annual Conference on Friday, Mugabe criticised recent manouveres by the west which is agitating for military intervention in the country, saying Zimbabwe is a peaceful nation.

He called for the west to lift sanctions as they are causing loss of life and human suffering in the country and vowed that Zimbabwe will not surrender in the fight against the west even if the sanctions are not lifted.

On the issue of an inclusive government, Mugabe said under the arrangement, he remains the head of government and cabinet an issue which has not pleased the British who support the opposition.

He also said the British are discouraging the opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirayi from joining the arrangement, adding that Tsvangirayi is no longer in control of himself and this explains why he is globe trotting.

In his message to Zanu-PF supporters Mugabe called for unity among supporters saying disunity will weaken the party. He reminded delegates that the party is supreme and no individual is above its set structures and rules.

He also called on candidates vying for political posts to accept defeat when they lose and desist from influencing the electorate to vote against a winning candidate.

He blasted the behaviour of some groups within the party who urged people to vote against him in the presidential March harmonised elections explaining that if the president of a party loses an election, the party would have lost too.