Zimbabwe's Mugabe: Black empowerment tops agenda

[August 13, 2013]  HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Zimbabwe's longtime President Robert Mugabe says his party won "a resounding mandate" from voters to complete a sweeping black empowerment program to take over foreign and white-owned assets.

Mugabe said Tuesday the program in Zimbabwe, though criticized by Western countries, will be "pursued to its successful conclusion."

Outgoing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, 61, is challenging the results of the July 31 election and alleges widespread vote rigging that gave Mugabe, 89, and his party a commanding victory.

Addressing military parades on the annual Defense Forces holiday, Mugabe said voters ended an unwieldy coalition with Tsvangirai's opposition that was formed after the last violent and disputed elections in 2008.

Mugabe said the vote showed confidence in his ZANU-PF party and its drive for "total economic emancipation" for prosperity and jobs.

[Associated Press]

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