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Mugabe says SADC guidelines a triumph over colonisers

19th August 2004

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said yesterday new "political systems" adopted at a regional summit in Mauritius will prevent Western nations like Britain "interfering in the affairs" of southern African countries.

The long-time leader accused Zimbabwe's former master Britain of harbouring colonial and neo-colonial tendencies, as well as a desire to change regimes.

"I'm glad that we now have come up with our own... guidelines," Mugabe told state television shortly after his return from a two-day summit of the 13-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), held on the Indian Ocean island state.

"How can we ever expect them (former colonisers) to have rules for us governing our systems, which are equitable, which are in our favour?" he asked.

"That's not going to happen, especially when you have characters like (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair who are very arrogant... and pronounce themselves as ordained ones in charge of African systems and ordained ones who have a divine role to change regimes."

At the summit 13 southern African leaders approved a new regional charter on free and fair elections that specifies how they should be conducted to guarantee democracy.

Incoming SADC chairperson and Mauritian Prime Minister Paul Berenger said the adoption of the charter would help the SADC to normalise relations with the US and EU, which have imposed targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his close associates for alleged electoral and human rights abuses.

The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change has however said that electoral reforms announced by Mugabe's government recently do not enough to provide a level playing field ahead of next year's polls. – Sapa-AFP.

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