Mugabe tells Britain and the EU they cannot attend elections

By Lelethu Mquqo
10 September 2011

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe says Britain and the European Union will not be allowed to observe next year’s elections in his country.

Mugabe made the announcement while welcoming the new ambassador from Britain to Harare.

Both are shown smiling in newspaper photographs, but observers say the atmosphere behind doors would not have been all that pleasant.

Mugabe told Ambassador Deborah Bronnert that Britain would not be invited to observe the planned elections.

He added that the sanctions imposed on himself and his supporters showed that Britain and the EU disliked Zanu-PF.