Mugabe threatens critics with 'full wrath of the law'

President Robert Mugabe threatened in a speech today to bring down “the full wrath of the law” against anyone who disturbs Zimbabwean peace and stability.

The threat comes after calls by the country’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, for street protests to topple 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,” Mugabe, 82, said in a rambling and repetitive speech broadcast on state television 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 Mugabe critic, says at least 10,000 people have died of hunger and malnutrition-related diseases.

He accuses officials from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front of denying aid to opposition supporters.

Critics blame Zimbabwe’s economic woes on the seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to black Zimbabweans since 2,000.

But Mugabe, in his speech, pointed the finger at a “spate of devastating droughts and an evil program of unjustified sanctions” by Western nations.

The United States and European Union have imposed travel bans and other targeted sanctions against Mugabe and members of his regime.

Mugabe, who has led the country since independence from Britain in 1980, said today: “We are happy that no one anywhere in the drought-stricken areas was allowed to die of hunger.”

Mugabe also vowed to press ahead with plans to place other economic sectors still under foreign ownership in the hands of the state or black Zimbabweans, including forcing major platinum producers with multi-billion-dollar development projects underway to sell at least 51% of their shares.

“Non-renewable resources are ours in the first place,” Mugabe said. “You, the investor, will get a reward, yes, but that reward will be balanced by what we keep for ourselves.”

Thousands of ruling party supporters were bused in from across the country for a lavish ceremony at the National Sports Stadium, but the 80,000-capacity facility was only half full.

Mugabe arrived half an hour later than announced and was greeted with a flypast of Chinese fighter jets.

Much of Zimbabwe’s once formidable British-trained air force has been grounded by Western embargoes that make getting spare parts difficult.