Mugabe accuses ex-prime minister of treason

HARARE
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Sunday told his longtime rival Morgan Tsvangirai ‘to go to hell’ saying he has committed ‘treason of the worst kind’ by working with Western countries to try to topple him from power.

President Mugabe who was speaking in the second city of Bulawayo where he unveiled a statue of late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, who died in 1999, accused the opposition of being unpatriotic.

The veteran ruler and Mr Tsvangirai, a former prime minister in an inclusive government that ended in July have been exchanging harsh words at public forums since the country held controversial elections early this year.

President Mugabe made a passionate plea to former fighters of the liberation struggle who deserted his Zanu PF to rejoin the party.

He then charged: “I am not saying this to Tsvangirai and MDC (Movement for Democratic Change), those can go to hell.”

The unveiling of the stature was done marked Unity Day, celebrated every year to make the signing of a 1987 unity accord between President Mugabe and Mr Nkomo to end army killings in south western Zimbabwe.

Bulawayo’s international airport was also renamed after Mr Nkomo who is regarded is the pioneer of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle that led to the country’s independence in 1980.

President Mugabe insists the MDC is sponsored by Britain and the United States to push a regime change in Zimbabwe.

Mr Tsvangirai was in 2004 charged for treason after he was accused of plotting to assassinate the 89 year-old leader.