Mugabe Attacks Britain, Gays at Campaign Rally
Agence France-Presse, February 3, 2002
HARARE (AFP)—Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
threatened to punish gay groups at a weekend campaign rally for his
re-election, saying Britain was angry at him for his stance against
homosexuality.
Mugabe said British Prime Minister Tony Blair should "expose" his
cabinet as full of gays before criticising Zimbabwe, according to the official
ZIANA news agency.
"I have people who are married in my cabinet. He has homosexuals and
they make John marry Joseph and let Mary get married to Rosemary," Mugabe
told thousands of people at a rally in the rural district of Wedza yesterday.
"We are saying they do not know biology because even dogs and pigs
know biology. We can form clubs, but we will never have homosexual clubs. In
fact, we will punish them," he said.
Attacks on Britain are staples of Mugabe’s speeches, especially as the
former colonial power has moved toward imposing sanctions on his regime over
his increasingly autocratic rule ahead of the March 9-10 presidential
election.
Mugabe forced through parliament tough new security and press laws last
month, even as the opposition and rights groups accused pro-government
militants of stepping up attacks on people who oppose him.
The 77-year-old president, who has ruled since independence in 1980, is
struggling for his political survival against a tough challenge from former
labor leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
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