Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has said he will not accept foreign interference during elections later this year.
In an address to mark 33 years of Zimbabwean independence on Thursday, Mugabe welcomed recent efforts by Western nations to reopen dialogue with Zimbabwe after years of isolation to protest political violence, rights abuses and alleged vote rigging.
However, he said Western leaders should let the nation’s people “determine our own destiny” and defended the country’s independence without interference.
“Interference in our affairs will never be accepted,” he said, while calling on Zimbabweans to conduct themselves honourably during the elections, which could be held anywhere from late June to September.
Mugabe urged his people to vote peacefully and said the nation had an obligation to “uphold and promote peace before, during, and after” upcoming polls that will mark the end of the country’s coalition government with former political rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
“The country is now due to hold harmonised elections, and I wish to urge the nation to uphold and promote peace,” Mugabe said.
“Go and vote your own way. No one should force you to vote for me.”
Wirestory
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