A defiant President Robert Mugabe yesterday took a stand against what he called Western meddling in Zimbabwe’s affairs.

Speaking to the state-run Herald newspaper Mugabe said “Zimbabwe shall recover by her wits and resources”. This came after a delegation to the EU in Brussels was told that Europe needed to seem more reform in politics and human rights practises. The West and Mugabe’s government have been at a standoff for over a decade after the Zimbabwean government first started seizing white owned farms before clamping down on political opposition and free speech.

Mugabe went on to add “Zimbabwe will not be saved by any country or organisation, least of all Western. Let our partners in the inclusive government get that, so we do not waste our efforts on useless initiatives”. The European Union renewed sanctions measures against Mugabe and his closest associates for another year long period. Mugabe accused Western countries of pressurising the Kimberley Process into barring exports of Zimbabwean diamonds.

Zimbabwe is sitting on 4,5million ounces of gem quality diamonds that it cannot sell legally after it was hit by Kimberly Process sanctions over human rights abuses at its state run mines.

By Staff reporter and agencies