British are "thieves" says Mugabe

Robert Mugabe today delivered a speech marking 28 years of independence. In his address to loyal party supporters he called Britain “thieves” who were trying to steal the country [BBC / CNN].

On Thursday, Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said South African President Thabo Mbeki needed to be "relieved of his duties" as a mediator in the crisis caused by the presidential poll, for which results have not been released. Mbeki has been almost entirely silent over the election crisis. “What kind of an election is it when you won’t let the will of the people be known?” George Bush said yesterday as he added his voice to many others calling for results to be released. “I appreciate those in the region who have spoken out on this issue, I appreciate that some in the region have spoken out against violence” but he said “more leaders in the region need to speak out, and the United Nations and the AU [African Union] must play an active role in resolving the issue in Zimbabwe”. But many leaders in the region have failed to raise their voice against the Mugabe regime.

Meanwhile, South African dock workers were refusing to unload a shipment of arms from China destined for Zimbabwe. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union said it did "not agree with the position of the government not to intervene".

Reports suggest the Chinese cargo ship An Yue Jiang, anchored off Durban, is carrying 3m rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and 2,500 mortar rounds. The shipment of arms to Zimbabwe is not embargoed under UN rules at present. The shipment will however pull China into yet further political discussion and criticism as it is seen to prop up the Mugabe regime [Sky News]. While the South African government did not wish to interfere with Sino-Zambian trade, trade union members felt very differently. SATAWU General Secretary Randall Howard said, "We are concerned that the current stand-off could mean the arms would fall into the hands of those who want to use military force against the people of Zimbabwe. The South African government cannot be seen as propping up a military regime".

According to some a crackdown has already started against those seen as supporting the opposition [BBC]. And today Times journalist Jonathan Clayton told how he had been beaten by the Zimbabwe police after his arrest for ‘illegally’ reporting in the country.