Mugabe pays tribute to loyal supporters ahead of party congress

Wed Dec 12, 11:12 AM ET

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday opened a meeting of his ruling ZANU-PF party's central committee, paying tribute to loyalists who are backing his bid for a sixth term in office.

"Just under two weeks ago, we witnessed the unforgettable million men and women march which further reinvigorated the party and confounded our critics," Mugabe told members of the committee ahead of his party's national congress which opens Thursday in the capital Harare.

"Well done war veterans, women's league, youth league...where your getting together was a resounding one. Resounding and it is talked about the world over," he said.

Last Friday, thousands of Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) supporters marched through the streets of Harare to express their support for Mugabe's candidature in March 2008 joint presidential and parliamentary elections.

The march came as Mugabe faced growing pressure from his Western critics to step down over his country's economic crisis.

"Outside our borders, our message has been reaching a growing numbers of countries on the continent and Europe," Mugabe told party supporters.

"This growing understanding of our situation saw some countries in the European Union recently dissociating themselves from the confusion in Britain and pledging support for our full participation at the just-ended EU-Africa summit."

He did not name these countries.

Mugabe participated in the summit in Lisbon, Portugal, which British Prime Minister Gordon Brown boycotted in protest at his presence.

"Our message is simple and undiluted: we proclaim here, today and in the future that our sovereignty and the economic empowerment of our indigenous people cannot be compromised," Mugabe said.

He urged party supporters to vote massively for ZANU-PF in next year's elections in which he is the party's sole presidential candidate.

"That resounding vote should produce an echo across the seas and let it be heard in Number 10 Downing Street (residence and office of British Prime Minister). The ring should be the ring of the words, 'Zimbabwe will never be a colony again'", he said to the applause of supporters.

According to the conference programme, Mugabe is expected to formally open the normal business of the congress on Thursday.

About 10,000 delegates are expected to attend the congress, including political parties from the region and other solidarity groups, officials said.