Posted on 09/02/2002 3:25:51 AM PDT by Clive
Zimbabwe's defence minister says his country is ready to defend itself against invasions by western countries, including former colonial power Britain, the Herald newspaper reported today.
"We are aware of the British government's plots to re-colonise the country and reverse the gains of the liberation struggle, but I am quite sure that patriotic Zimbabweans will stand up and resist the Western powers' moves.
"The constitutional responsibility of my ministry is to defend the territorial integrity of Zimbabwe and that, the Zimbabwe National Army will do," Sydney Sekeramayi, the defence minister said.
Last week Britain's Daily Telegraph quoted an unnamed military official as saying Britain might be forced to intervene militarily if its nationals in Zimbabwe, who include white farmers, are attacked. Sekeramayi said conditions in Zimbabwe did not warrant intervention from the United Nations or any country. He said the country's problems were "domestic" and could be resolved by it.
He said: "President Robert Mugabe's government would not stop anyone leaving the country." Last week Britain's Foreign Office said Britain had contingency plans to evacuate an estimated 20 000 of its nationals from Zimbabwe. It said it had similar plans for other "global hotspots".
Zimbabwe is currently in the throes of a turbulent land reform programme, in which formerly white-owned farms have been acquired for resettlement by landless blacks. Britain and several other Western countries have condemned the programme. - Sapa-AFP
This is a message to South Africa, not Great Britain.
Great Britain is merely the bogeyman.
Great! Now quit begging for foreign aid.
This guy must be smoking some heavy-duty stuff! Britain isn't plotting to re-colonise Zimbabwe, nor is anyone else. After the shambles Mugabe has made of it, nobody would want it!!
the infowarrior
There they go again. "Acquired for resettlement" sounds so nice, so peaceful and orderly, right?
Hard to say which is less trustworthy, the politicians or the press. I think it's the press.
Yep, you beat me to it.
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