Mugabe threatens critics with ‘full wrath of the law’

ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe threatened yesterday to bring down “the full wrath of the law” against anyone who disturbs peace and stability.

The threat comes after calls by the country’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, for street protests to topple Mr Mugabe’s 26-year rule.

“Anyone who dares go against the law ... dares lead any group of persons to embark on a campaign of violence or terrorist activity, will be inviting the full wrath of the law to descend mercilessly on him and, or on those who follow him,” Mr Mugabe, 82, said in a rambling and repetitive speech to mark the 26th anniversary of independence.

This year’s festivities come at a time of deepening economic crisis and a rapidly widening gap between Zimbabwe’s rich elite and poor majority.

Unemployment exceeds 70%, inflation is over 900% and the country faces acute shortages of food, gasoline and other imports.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, a leading Mr Mugabe critic, says at least 10,000 people have died of hunger and malnutrition-related diseases.

Critics blame Zimbabwe’s economic woes on the seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to black Zimbabweans since 2000.