Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe President, Slams Gays, Western Values On 88th Birthday

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe wound up a week of celebrations marking his 88th birthday with a lavish gathering Saturday, where he urged the nation's youth to shun Western values, homosexuality and greed.

Mugabe, hosting a celebration in the eastern city of Mutare, said some African leaders have become "weak and naive" and thought only of material gains when "kneeling" to Westerners.

Organizers from his ZANU-PF party said 20,000 people gathered at a Mutare sports stadium Saturday for his annual bash targeted at the country's youth.

A cake baked in Harare was taken to Mutare under police escort, and livestock were slaughtered for the event.

Regional Mugabe party official Charles Samuriwo didn't comment on estimates that the tab for the occasion had reached nearly $1 million. He told reporters that businesses made "sufficient" donations and "no one will go back home on an empty stomach."

In a nationwide broadcast of the event, Mugabe said it was up to the young to "carry the torch in the future" and maintain a high standard of moral and sexual behavior. He said that unacceptable Western values included same-sex marriages.

"We reject that outright and say to hell with you," he said in a nationwide broadcast of the event.

"You are free as a man to marry a woman and that is what we follow. That's what produced you and me," he said. "This kind of insanity is now part of the culture" of Europe and the United States, he added.

Mugabe told Zimbabwe's young that the fight against Western influence still had to be fought.

"You must go to the head of the imperialist and knock out his brain," he said, cautioning them also against to "any love for money than is greater than your political conscience."

In nearly four hours of birthday broadcasts this week, Mugabe said he would call elections this year to end a shaky coalition government with the former opposition of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai, who was not in Mutare, insisted Friday that elections can only be held next year after constitutional and election reforms have been completed.

Mugabe said Saturday those opposing early polls "know they will lose if we go to elections this year."

Tsvangirai on Friday described the three-year coalition with Mugabe, formed after disputed and violent elections in 2008, as a "painful and sorrowful experience" and said he will "resist" elections being held in 2012.

He said Mugabe wasn't to be trusted in power-sharing as "we have a president who indicates left and turns right."

Mugabe, whose birthday was Tuesday, said he had been showered with gifts, blessings and prayers from home and abroad, and that support from his countrymen "warms my heart and invigorates me."

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Comments

[sleeplessjewel]

12:31 AM on 02/28/2012

Mugabe warns youngins against GREED?! Would LOL if it wasn't so sad.

[Dan Kreutzer]

09:42 PM on 02/27/2012

wonder if mugabe smells any brimstone from his throne?

[zeddicus]

05:38 AM on 02/28/2012

things are never easy to any leader even in first world countries

[Dan Kreutzer]

09:39 PM on 02/27/2012

a meeting between pres mugabe and pres santorum would be all theological damning and curses, santorum is in great company.

[Daniel De Boulet]

04:29 PM on 02/27/2012

Dictators are silly ....

[Mikeygr]

10:52 AM on 02/28/2012

They are also VERY dangerous!!!!!

[campcranston]

04:10 PM on 02/27/2012

Why not work on fixing your own country before you start talking about others. My goodness, this is a shame.

[Jmonique]

10:46 PM on 02/27/2012

I am sure they can fix it if America keep out of their business.....We are always in everyone's business except our own.

[brklynivn]

01:30 AM on 02/28/2012

Now you're blaming America for Zimababwe's woes. No what happened to Zimbabwe was totally self inflicted.

[ZC1968]

02:38 PM on 02/27/2012

At least he is promoting the right message.

[Jason N]

04:06 PM on 02/27/2012

That slaughterer your own people because they oppose you is right? That message?

[ZC1968]

04:37 PM on 02/27/2012

No, but to oppose the Gay lifesytle.

[usorthem3]

12:50 AM on 02/28/2012

Christians promote violence, especially against gay people. http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/btb/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/nom-solution-2.jpg
The Bible teaches hatred just like many other cults around the world, it's been killing for the last 2000 years.

[brklynivn]

01:30 AM on 02/28/2012

Looks like then they're getting what they asked for then.

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

02:20 PM on 02/27/2012

Robert Mugabe is an inspiration to all Africans everywhere. Finally, Africa the way Africa is supposed to be. {{-_-}}

[Elrancho2]

03:11 PM on 02/27/2012

Johnny - what is wrong with you?! Do you really think that killing and imprisoning your opponents is what an African leader is supposed to be? Your comment is an insult to all decent Zimbabweans who struggle every day of their lives to survive over there.

[Jmonique]

10:49 PM on 02/27/2012

Are you talking about About America? Because the pot cannot call the kettle black....We have enough crimes that have been committed on these soils so we cannot talk about any other country until we let the skeletons fully out of our closets and repent!

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

11:40 PM on 02/27/2012

You're not in any position to speak on African matters but we do have freedom of speech so you're entitled to speak your piece. Either way, this is the ONLY way an African leader is supposed to be. {{-_-}}

[Jason N]

04:06 PM on 02/27/2012

So what are you waiting for? Move on over there if it's such a paradise....

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

11:42 PM on 02/27/2012

There is much work to be done here first. We all play a part in this global African economy. {{-_-}}

[underdogg182]

02:16 PM on 02/27/2012

Is there not even one person in Zimbabwe brave enough to shoot this bigoted dictator?

[zenju2]

11:59 AM on 02/27/2012

I like how this conniving and brutal old fossil has managed to reduce his nation to ruin and still maintain power. Lesson to dictators and thugs: It helps to have no oil and rule a predominately non-white nation. It's pretty much anything goes.

[Elrancho2]

11:09 AM on 02/27/2012

Mugabe, with all his hypocrisy and hatred would make an excellent Republican.

[Kelly Carroll]

08:38 PM on 02/27/2012

And Democrats are all innocent, right? Don't make nasty stereotypes. Not all R's or all D's are nasty, horrid people. Don't spread such hatred.

[Elrancho2]

05:01 PM on 02/28/2012

Kelly - Democrats are definitely not all innocent and there may even be a small minority of Republicans who are decent. However, I still stand by my comment as being true, generally speaking and Republicans have proved me right, time and time again.

[Dan Dolan]

11:18 AM on 02/27/2012

You mean homophobic HATERS? That is what I see. For SHAME. Shameful comment.

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

12:04 PM on 02/27/2012

There are many other countries in the world which embrace and accept your lifestyle. If you got a problem with Africa, go to one of those other countries and quit trying to force your lifestyle upon us. We don't have to accept it if we don't want to. There is no shame in a man and a woman procreating together. {{-_-}}

[Elrancho2]

11:45 AM on 02/27/2012

Johnny - you are mistaken to applaud Mugabe. Whatever you think about homosexuality, he has systematically spread misery throughout his country, killing or imprisoning those who oppose him and rewarding generals who are probably the richest generals in the world to keep him in power. Zimbabweans deserve peace and justice and they are getting neither under Mugabe.

[Royce09]

06:20 AM on 02/27/2012

Places like that being gay will probably cost you you Life. Not a good place to be for anyone

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

10:54 AM on 02/27/2012

Then don't go there. {{-_-}}

[Dan Dolan]

11:19 AM on 02/27/2012

Then why don't you go to another thread then? You are the one causing trouble here! If you can't be civil or nice, then go somewhere else homophobe.

[Jason N]

12:01 PM on 02/27/2012

Maybe you should. After all, wouldn't want you to be surrounded by this "corrupt Western culture."

[bmiller616]

05:42 AM on 02/27/2012

Who in hell cares what he thinks...You know I am so sick and tired of the hate gay crap. I am sick and tired of the gays just acting like oh well we will fight on. Stand up and show them you have a set.. It;s time this backward way of thinking come to an end. It's time...I for one am sick of it...

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

10:54 AM on 02/27/2012

You know, no one is forcing you to go to Zimbabwe. {{-_-}}

[obsidiana]

11:21 PM on 02/27/2012

Somebody has way to much time on they're hands......

[brklynivn]

01:34 AM on 02/28/2012

No, Zims are forced into South Africa.

[Blaze Burton]

11:38 PM on 02/26/2012

uneducated people running around with guns, hating everyone whos not them, abusing the poor, sounds like the 1% Disney Land (if only everyone there were white)

[Asmodean1]

10:52 AM on 02/27/2012

Oh.... I thought you were talking about republican christians.

[brklynivn]

11:26 PM on 02/26/2012

He does not seem to mind all the Western food aid they receive, in fact I recall he was basically begging for it. Remarkable since Zimbabwe used to feed Africa.