WASHINGTON DC —
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is set to address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday with political analysts predicting that he will continue lashing at Britain and America, especially after the two countries rejected his re-election in the July 31 polls.
The veteran leader, who arrived in New York Saturday, has previously used the General Assembly to bash the two nations and their western allies for slapping his government with travel and financial restrictions allegedly "in a bid to remove him from power."
In the period running up to his speech, Mr. Mugabe is expected to attend a number of preliminary meetings, including one on the Millennium Development Goals, which Harare admits it will not meet, thanks to Western sanctions.
Although the president is under US sanctions, he is allowed to attend UN meetings.
Observers say Mr. Mugabe will take the UN podium this year emboldened by his recent landslide victory over former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party in an election endorsed by African countries and observers.
"It's clear that President Mugabe is going to continue his tirade against Americans, the British and the West in general for having chided him on the outcome and the handling of the recent election," political analyst Dr Nkululeko Sibanda said.
Like he has done before, Mr. Mugabe is also expected to call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council which he wants reconstituted to include permanent African members, a position supported by many African leaders
The five permanent UN Security Council members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US.
The veteran leader, who arrived in New York Saturday, has previously used the General Assembly to bash the two nations and their western allies for slapping his government with travel and financial restrictions allegedly "in a bid to remove him from power."
In the period running up to his speech, Mr. Mugabe is expected to attend a number of preliminary meetings, including one on the Millennium Development Goals, which Harare admits it will not meet, thanks to Western sanctions.
Although the president is under US sanctions, he is allowed to attend UN meetings.
Observers say Mr. Mugabe will take the UN podium this year emboldened by his recent landslide victory over former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party in an election endorsed by African countries and observers.
"It's clear that President Mugabe is going to continue his tirade against Americans, the British and the West in general for having chided him on the outcome and the handling of the recent election," political analyst Dr Nkululeko Sibanda said.
Like he has done before, Mr. Mugabe is also expected to call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council which he wants reconstituted to include permanent African members, a position supported by many African leaders
The five permanent UN Security Council members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US.