Denounces gays in UN address
Mugabe rejects extending rights to gay people in Zimbabwe during a speech at the UN General Assembly.
We reject attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. We are not gays.
He also criticized US and EU sanctions:
We have peace in Zimbabwe just now. We don’t want war. We don’t want interference. We don’t want to hear of regime change at all.
Reads wrong speech
Mugabe reads the wrong speech at the opening of parliament, giving the same one he gave during his state-of-the-nation address. His spokesman says the error was because of a mix-up in the president’s secretarial office. Tension is high ahead of the speech and the state broadcaster cancels its live feed fearing disruptions since at least six members of parliament from the opposition received a text message from a sender called “Death” warning them to behave. The message reads:
Warning: Immunity ends in parliament… act wisely by not disturbing the proceedings of parliament.
Mugabe says heroes acre only for ZANU PF
Mugabe makes it clear that only those who participated in the liberation struggle and continue to show their allegiance to him and his Zanu PF party will be conferred hero status when they die. Addressing the thousands who turned out to remember the country’s liberation heroes at the national shrine in Harare, President Mugabe says those who leave Zanu PF and go into opposition should not expect to be granted hero status at the end of their lives. He says there are some ‘misguided elements’ in society whom he accused of denigrating the country’s heroes and the national shrine, adding some went as far as suggesting how national heroes should be selected saying this his and Zanu PF’s prerogative only.
Heroes proved to be heroes as they fought and lived for the independence. They never abandoned struggles, they never were rebels or selfish or what we now call sellouts.
Says Zimbabwe failed to protect Cecil
Mugabe says Zimbabweans failed in their responsibility to protect Cecil. Mugabe says his compatriots should protect their natural resources from what he calls foreign ‘vandals’.
Even Cecil the lion – he is yours. He’s dead! He was yours to protect and you failed to protect him. There are vandals who come from all over of course… some may be just ordinary visitors, but (there are) others who want to vandalise, to irregularly and illegally acquire part of our resources.
Refused entry to Ivory Coast
Mugabe says Ivory Coast President Ouattara blocked him from entering the country after his plane landed at the airport, while Mugabe was serving as rotating chairman of the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He does not say when the incident happened. He says African leaders refuse to recognise his leadership on regional bodies at the prodding of the French government.
The French are saying that Mugabe is a dangerous man and don’t work with him. Britain is also trying to exert the same influence.
Says Africa must set up own ICC
While seeing off President Keita of Mali after his three-day state visit to Zimbabwe, Mugabe says fellow African heads of state should form its own criminal court to bring to justice those Western leaders who he says have committed “serious war crimes and crimes against humanity…particularity during the colonial era” in Africa.
They committed crimes, colonial crimes galore—the slaughter of our people and all that imprisonment, I have a case. Why was I imprisoned for 11 years? We forgave them, but perhaps we’ve not done ourselves justice … You set up the ICC, we set our ICC to try Europeans, to try Mr. [George] Bush and Mr. [Tony] Blair.
resident Keita agrees:
[It is] up to Africans, not Europeans or Americans, to judge their leaders.
Obama ‘blocks’ Mugabe
President Obama blocks President Mugabe from attending his special meeting at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Press secretary Charamba says Mugabe is unmoved by Obama’s visit to the AU headquarters, describing the event as just “a visit by any other visitor”.
Obama has come to Ethiopia for an official visit and to address the staff there…If you are afraid of him, we are not because he is just a Head of State who visits Africa and the AU headquarters by virtue of his ancestry. There will be a report on the summit in January where we will get a briefing on the visitor who is called Barack Obama ‘who we received and went back home happy’. . . He did not come to visit Mugabe. He went to Ethiopia and asked to visit the HQ. I did not see you writing that Mugabe snubs Obama when he went for the Ebola summit (in New York)
Book auctioned for $50 000
A book chronicling the life of First Lady Grace Mugabe in pictures, titled Amai Dr Grace Mugabe at 50, is bought for $50 000 by Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Prophet Magaya after he outbids other potential buyers. The bids for the book start at $5 000 during the First Lady’s 50th birthday celebrations gala and fund-raising dinner held at the First Family’s home in Harare. Prophet Magaya says he is happy to meet the First Family and he will continue to support the First Lady’s philanthropic work.
Calls on journalists to tell Africa’s story
Mugabe calls on African journalists to tell the African story and stop being used by Western powers to despise the continent’s heads of state. Mugabe tells journalists at the end of the Ebola Conference Equatorial Guinea that they should not allow the West to dictate to them what to write.
They don’t do that to their own leaders. But they make you despise us, they make you destroy our images in the press and when you do that, are you being an African?,
Attends NY Ebola summit
Mugabe arrives in New York ahead of the United Nations International Ebola Recovery Conference, accompanied by First Lady Grace Mugabe, Health Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister and Finance Minister. They are expected to be confined within a 25-mile radius due to travel sanctions.
The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association is warning that the health delivery system in the country is deteriorating owing to government lax in controlling medical aid societies and alleged corruption, citing the auditor general’s report which alleged that local resources are being abused and are short changing patients.
Flood victims petition
Mugabe is petitioned by Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims who accuse his government of abandoning them. In a petition sent to his office, the villagers request Mugabe visit them so that he can see for himself the conditions at their new settlement.
We write this urgent appeal to you on behalf of 20 000 victims of the Tokwe-Mukosi floods who have been dumped at Nuanetsi ranch in Mwenezi. We do not have food and we are facing starvation,We feel like people in prison.Your government is treating us like second-class citizens and as if we are people with no rights,
Your government has forced us to settle on Nuanetsi ranch this place is not suitable for people to live. Despite promises, your government has failed to compensate many of us and allocate each family enough land (at least 5 hectares) for resettlement. Instead each family was allocated one hectare plot of land only, Your excellency, we ask you to come as soon as possible to Nuanetsi ranch to see for yourself the conditions we are living under.
Proposes to Obama
During his weekly interview with the national radio station, Mugabe mocks America’s decision to legalise gay marriage by vowing to travel to the White House and proposing to Barack Obama.
I’ve just concluded – since President Obama endorses the same-sex marriage, advocates homosexual people and enjoys an attractive countenance – thus if it becomes necessary, I shall travel to Washington, DC, get down on my knee and ask his hand. I can’t understand how this people dare to defy Christ’s explicit orders as our Lord prohibited mankind from sodomy.
Revokes honorary degree
Michigan State University trustees unanimously aprove a decision to strip Mugabe of an honorary law degree, citing a pattern of human rights abuses and political repression, the first time in MSU’s 153-year history that an honorary degree has been revoked,
Mugabe’s persistent acts of violence, aggression and intimidatio …even in the face of substantive and regular international rebuke leave Michigan State University no choice but to act,
Knighthood stripped
Mugabe is stripped of his knighthood by Prime Minister Brown as a symbolic gesture.
This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided.
Revokes honorary degree
The University of Massachusetts rescinds Mugabe’s honorary degree, the first time it has revoked an honorary degree in its 145-year history.
Rescinding an honorary degree is a step to be taken in only the rarest and most grievous of circumstances…Robert Mugabe’s performance and policies in Zimbabwe are so egregious as to warrant this ultimate expression of disapproval…In 1986, Robert Mugabe appeared to represent the hope of a self-determined Africa. We have now learned, however, that the promise we saw in 1986 was false.
Revokes honorary degree
The University of Edinburgh revokes an honorary degree awarded to Mugabe, that it had awarded in 1984. He is the international figure to be stripped of an honorary degree by a British university. The University agreed to set up an investigative panel after the student association raised the events between 1982 and 1984 in Matabeleland, in November 2005. The panel established that the university had legal powers to recall an honorary degree.
[The panel] examined evidence relating to the situation in Zimbabwe in the early 1980s, evidence which was not available to the university at the time the degree was conferred.
Commonwealth withdrawal
Zimbabwe formally informs the Commonwealth of its withdrawal from the 54-nation group over its extended suspension.
The principles of equality, fair play and respect for the national sovereignty of member states for which the club stands have sadly been compromised…In the light of the…threats to its cherished and hard won independence and sovereignty, the Republic of Zimbabwe has chosen to terminate its membership of the Commonwealth effective from 7th December, 2003 rather than continue to subject itself to such racist humiliation, arbitrariness and arrogance.
Orders white farmers to give up land
In a speech marking Heroes Day — celebrating victory over the old white regime — Mugabe gives a stern warning to white farmers that his government will stick to its policy of removing them from their land. Nearly 3,000 farmers have been told to leave their properties, although only 500 have left so far. Those who remain could be fined and jailed for up to two years for ignoring the eviction order. Mugabe says the August deadline will allow new owners of the land enough time to prepare and plant for the new crop season in October.
We set ourselves an August deadline for the redistribution of land and that deadline stands. All genuine and well-meaning white farmers who wish to pursue a farming career as loyal citizens of this country have land to do so, no farmer need go without land.
He also rejects allegations that international food aid has been diverted away from opposition supporters to his own followers.
We shall feed all. Even the stooges and puppets will have enough. No Zimbabwean should die of hunger.
Commonwealth suspension
Zimbabwe is suspended from the Commonwealth for a year. Election observers find the elections which return Mugabe to power seriously flawed. South African president Mbeki, Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and Australian prime minister Howard – announce the suspension following several hours of talks at Marlborough House in London. Howard:
The committee decided to suspend Zimbabwe from the councils of the Commonwealth for one year with immediate effect…This issue will be revisited in 12 months’ time, having regard to progress in Zimbabwe and report from the Commonwealth’s Secretary General…I have noted in the lead-up to this meeting that people have said repeatedly that this is a test for the Commonwealth as to whether it’s going to be consistent in its treatment. I believe we have been consistent in our treatment.
[There is strong support for the initiatives of the Nigerian and South African presidents] in encouraging a climate of reconciliation between the main political parties in Zimbabwe which they considered essential to address the issues of food shortages, economic recovery, the restoration of political stability, the rule of law and the conduct of future elections.
Re-elected
The Zimbabwe registrar-general declares that Mugabe wins a fifth term in office after the results from all 120 constituencies are returned. Mugabe wins 1,685,212 votes against 1,258,401 for challenger Tsvangirai. Mugabe makes a net gain of votes compared with the 2000 parliamentary election in every province in the country. While there is evidence of vote tampering in some areas, most of the ballots dropped into the box with a cross by Mugabe’s name are not fraudulent. There is no criticism of the count, and election observers from South Africa, Nigeria and Namibia effectively endorsed the election. Namibian observer:
It is our considered view that the election was free and fair and reflects the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe. [The poll] was watertight, without room for rigging”.
Justice Minister Chinamasa:
This is a runaway victory. It was won on the issue of the land.
Tsavrangai:
We foresaw electoral fraud but not daylight robbery. We find ourselves unable to endorse the purported election of President Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s president in this election. It’s the biggest election fraud I’ve witnessed in my life.