Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe says his government will nationalise all US and UK companies operating in the Southern african country unless Western sanctions are removed, BBC online reports Friday.
He told his Zanu-PF party’s annual conference it was time to fight the sanctions imposed on him and party leaders.
Mr Mugabe also said it was time to end power-sharing with the party of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The agreement with the MDC, struck in 2008, is due to expire in February.
More than 4.000 Zanu-PF members attended the opening of the conference in the eastern city of Mutare. The conference is expected to nominate 86-year-old Mr Mugabe as party candidate for the next election.
– Why should we continue to have 400 British companies operating here freely? Why should we continue having companies and organisations that are supported by Britain and America without hitting back? Time has come for us to [take] revenge, Mugabe said.
Under Zimbabwe’s empowerment laws, black Zimbabweans should acquire 51 per cent of foreign businesses.
“We can read the riot act and say this is 51 per cent we are taking and if the sanctions persist we are taking over 100 per cent,” Mr Mugabe said.
Western states have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on President Mugabe, his wife and inner circle. Trade bans are also in place against Zimbabwean individuals and companies.
Mr Mugabe also told the conference that power-sharing with Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change “can not be allowed to continue”.
Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai formed a power-sharing administration six months after a chaotic presidential election in 2008. The stabilised the economy but relations between the two sides have become increasingly bitter.
