Mugabe critical of British PM Blair in speech

(2 Dec 2004)
1. Wide shot of hotel
2. Mid shot of hotel
3. People walking past banner reading "2005 Anti-Blair Vote"
4. Wide shot of conference
5. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and wife Grace clapping to music
6. Close up of Mugabe
7. Delegates clapping to music
8. Mid shot of podium
9. Set up shot of Mugabe at podium
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's President:
"Regime change, Mr Blair? Who are you? Who are you to talk of regime change in Zimbabwe? One of us, by what connection sir, do you hear me? Ancestral connection? And who were these ancestors, can we know? No, Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans. And only Zimbabweans can determine who shall rule them and who shall not. Whether there is a situation here of political order, of lawlessness, violation of the rule of law, violation of human rights, lack of democracy, our neighbours would know that better than the British government. They steal (indistinct word) the American administration. It is our land, ancestral land, our sacred land, never an extension of Britain."
11. Delegates clapping Mugabe's speech
STORYLINE:
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe lashed out at the country's former colonial power Britain in an annual address to his ruling African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) on Thursday.
Mugabe told delegates Zimbabwe was the victim of a campaign of lies by Britain and the United States about its record on human rights and democracy.
The 80-year-old autocrat told nine thousand party members: "It is our land, ancestral land, our sacred land, never an extension of Britain."
He added: "Whether there is a situation here of political order, of lawlessness, violation of the rule of law, violation of human rights, lack of democracy, our neighbours would know that better than the British government."
Mugabe brushed aside a dramatic rift in his ruling party, insisting members were united and ready to fight opponents at home and abroad as elections approach next year.
And he made no direct reference to the suspension on Wednesday of seven key party officials as he formally opened debate at the annual convention of his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front .
Mugabe acknowledged only that some members "want to sing a discordant note," but said the party's disciplinary code would be invoked to bring dissenters into line.
Six of the party's 10 provincial chairmen and a militant war veterans leader were suspended over allegations they plotted against Mugabe's choice for a new vice president, to be decided during the four-day convention ending on Saturday.
Zimbabwean Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, the architect of Zimbabwe's repressive media laws, was also reprimanded for participating in the power wrangle - the most dramatic split in ZANU-PF since it took power under Mugabe at independence from Britain in 1980.
Mugabe's long-time aide and confidant, Zimbabwean Vice President Simon Muzenda, died last year at the age of 80.
Mugabe and aging party veterans have endorsed Zimbabwean Rural Development Minister Joyce Mujuru to success Muzenda.
The selection of Mujuru, the first woman to be proposed for the party and government post, was seen as an attempt to thwart the open ambitions of parliamentary speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa to position himself as a possible successor to Mugabe.
The eight renegade members, who represent a new generation of party leaders, are said to have plotted to sway voting in favour of Mnangagwa.

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