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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe set to mark independence | Mugabe set to mark independence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is due to make his first major speech since last month's disputed elections. | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is due to make his first major speech since last month's disputed elections. |
| Mr Mugabe is scheduled to speak at a rally at a stadium in Harare to mark 28 years since independence from Britain and the end of white minority rule. | Mr Mugabe is scheduled to speak at a rally at a stadium in Harare to mark 28 years since independence from Britain and the end of white minority rule. |
| He has made few public comments since the presidential election, which the opposition says Morgan Tsvangirai won. | He has made few public comments since the presidential election, which the opposition says Morgan Tsvangirai won. |
| Meanwhile, South African dock workers are refusing to unload a shipment of arms from China destined for Zimbabwe. | Meanwhile, South African dock workers are refusing to unload a shipment of arms from China destined for Zimbabwe. |
| The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) said it did not agree with the government's decision not to intervene in the matter. | The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) said it did not agree with the government's decision not to intervene in the matter. |
| "Our members employed at Durban container terminal will not unload this cargo, neither will any of our members in the truck-driving sector move this cargo by road," Satawu's general secretary, Randall Howard, told local media. | "Our members employed at Durban container terminal will not unload this cargo, neither will any of our members in the truck-driving sector move this cargo by road," Satawu's general secretary, Randall Howard, told local media. |
| This is the saddest independence day since our liberation from colonial rule Morgan TsvangiraiMovement for Democratic Change href="/1/hi/world/africa/7353954.stm">Zimbabwe victim: 'I wailed in pain' | |
| Reports say the Chinese cargo ship, the An Yue Jiang, anchored off Durban is carrying 3m rounds of ammunition and 1,500 rockets. | Reports say the Chinese cargo ship, the An Yue Jiang, anchored off Durban is carrying 3m rounds of ammunition and 1,500 rockets. |
| On Thursday Mr Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said South African President Thabo Mbeki "needs to be relieved of his duties" as a mediator in the Zimbabwean political crisis. | On Thursday Mr Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said South African President Thabo Mbeki "needs to be relieved of his duties" as a mediator in the Zimbabwean political crisis. |
| He also told the BBC that his party had come close to an agreement with the ruling Zanu-PF to remove Mr Mugabe from power. | He also told the BBC that his party had come close to an agreement with the ruling Zanu-PF to remove Mr Mugabe from power. |
| The official results of the presidential poll have not been released, almost three weeks after election day. | The official results of the presidential poll have not been released, almost three weeks after election day. |
| Mr Tsvangirai remains adamant he won the 29 March presidential election outright. | Mr Tsvangirai remains adamant he won the 29 March presidential election outright. |
| But the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it cannot release the results until it investigates anomalies - a partial recount takes place this weekend. | But the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it cannot release the results until it investigates anomalies - a partial recount takes place this weekend. |
| Government ministers suggest that a run-off may be needed and the MDC says its activists in rural areas are being attacked ahead that possible poll. | Government ministers suggest that a run-off may be needed and the MDC says its activists in rural areas are being attacked ahead that possible poll. |
| 'Imperialism' | 'Imperialism' |
| President Mugabe has been invited to be the main speaker at celebrations marking independence day at the Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield, a suburb of the capital that was once a hotbed of opposition to white minority rule. | President Mugabe has been invited to be the main speaker at celebrations marking independence day at the Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield, a suburb of the capital that was once a hotbed of opposition to white minority rule. |
| The 84-year-old played a key role in the 1970s war of independence and took power as Zimbabwe's first prime minister in 1980 on a wave of popular support. | The 84-year-old played a key role in the 1970s war of independence and took power as Zimbabwe's first prime minister in 1980 on a wave of popular support. |
| [The UK and opposition] are trying to divide our people to create a weak society, a state of weakness to impose neo-colonial rule in our country President Robert Mugabe Why Mugabe is deaf to the WestTense waiting games in Zimbabwe | [The UK and opposition] are trying to divide our people to create a weak society, a state of weakness to impose neo-colonial rule in our country President Robert Mugabe Why Mugabe is deaf to the WestTense waiting games in Zimbabwe |
| The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says that for Mr Mugabe, this is therefore probably the most important day in the Zimbabwean national calendar. | The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says that for Mr Mugabe, this is therefore probably the most important day in the Zimbabwean national calendar. |
| Our correspondent says the president is likely to make some fairly strident comments along the lines of what he has been saying throughout the election campaign - that the opposition is colluding with Britain to undermine the country's independence. | Our correspondent says the president is likely to make some fairly strident comments along the lines of what he has been saying throughout the election campaign - that the opposition is colluding with Britain to undermine the country's independence. |
| On Thursday, Mr Mugabe told a group of school children at a party in Harare that it was vital to protect the country against colonial "imperialism". | On Thursday, Mr Mugabe told a group of school children at a party in Harare that it was vital to protect the country against colonial "imperialism". |
| "We should not let our children down by dropping our guard against imperialism, British imperialism, which is surreptitiously and clandestinely weaving its way through our society trying to divide us," he said. | "We should not let our children down by dropping our guard against imperialism, British imperialism, which is surreptitiously and clandestinely weaving its way through our society trying to divide us," he said. |
| "As long as I am still on this earth, as long as I am still breathing, the country shall never be a colony again. Never shall this country be a British colony again." | "As long as I am still on this earth, as long as I am still breathing, the country shall never be a colony again. Never shall this country be a British colony again." |
| 'Saddest day' | 'Saddest day' |
| On Thursday, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa accused Mr Tsvangirai of treason and working with the UK to bring about "regime change". | On Thursday, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa accused Mr Tsvangirai of treason and working with the UK to bring about "regime change". |
| Morgan Tsvangirai talks to the BBC | Morgan Tsvangirai talks to the BBC |
| The state-controlled Herald newspaper paper said the details were contained in a "memorandum of understanding" between the MDC leader and "various right-wing groups" in Zimbabwe and South Africa. | The state-controlled Herald newspaper paper said the details were contained in a "memorandum of understanding" between the MDC leader and "various right-wing groups" in Zimbabwe and South Africa. |
| The UK embassy in Harare said the correspondence was "a forgery". Mr Tsvangirai also rejected the treason allegations, describing Mr Chinamasa as an "injustice minister" because he had lost his seat in parliament. | The UK embassy in Harare said the correspondence was "a forgery". Mr Tsvangirai also rejected the treason allegations, describing Mr Chinamasa as an "injustice minister" because he had lost his seat in parliament. |
| At a press conference in Johannesburg, Mr Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe was facing "the saddest independence day since our liberation from colonial rule" and that people were literally starving. | At a press conference in Johannesburg, Mr Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe was facing "the saddest independence day since our liberation from colonial rule" and that people were literally starving. |
| Later, Mr Tsvangirai told the BBC that the MDC had come close to an agreement with Zanu-PF that would have removed President Mugabe from power. | Later, Mr Tsvangirai told the BBC that the MDC had come close to an agreement with Zanu-PF that would have removed President Mugabe from power. |
| "We were prepared to consider the issue of an inclusive government including some members of Zanu-PF," he said. | "We were prepared to consider the issue of an inclusive government including some members of Zanu-PF," he said. |
| "In fact they were suggesting how many and they were talking about a panel from which we were going to choose." | "In fact they were suggesting how many and they were talking about a panel from which we were going to choose." |
| The unity government talks failed when it became clear there were "others in the establishment who did not want to accept that", he said. | The unity government talks failed when it became clear there were "others in the establishment who did not want to accept that", he said. |
| The MDC leader also hinted that, if he comes to power, he could put Mr Mugabe on trial for his attempts to "suppress the people" who voted against him. | The MDC leader also hinted that, if he comes to power, he could put Mr Mugabe on trial for his attempts to "suppress the people" who voted against him. |
| He previously said there should be no "witch hunt" against the president. | He previously said there should be no "witch hunt" against the president. |