Mugabe defiant in face of party split

President Robert Mugabe brushed aside a dramatic rift in his ruling party today, insisting members were united and ready to fight opponents at home and abroad as Zimbabwe moves toward elections next year.

He made no direct reference to the suspension of seven key party officials as he formally opened debate at the annual convention of his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

The 80-year-old autocrat acknowledged only that some members “want to sing a discordant note,” but said the party’s disciplinary code would be invoked to bring dissenters into line.

“We are meeting as a united people who believe in themselves,” Mugabe told about 9,000 delegates in Harare

Mugabe told delegates Zimbabwe was the victim of a campaign of lies by Britain and the US about its record on human rights and democracy.

“The enemy will not stop its imperialist manoeuvres, so we must remain solidly united so we can resist him,” he said.

Banners hoisted in the convention centre declared opposition leaders were Britain’s “running dogs.”

Mugabe, an outspoken critic of homosexuality, slammed Western countries for condoning same-sex relationships.

“Imagine this decadence of culture. How far can cultures get rotten?” he said. “We are supposed to learn from them the virtues of good behaviour. No, we have a lot to teach them.”