Mugabe: my opponents can ‘go hang’ themselves

In his first speech since being reelected on July 31, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe dismissed allegations that the election was rigged, saying his opponents could “go hang” themselves.

"Those who lost elections may commit suicide if they so wish,” he said in a speech given for Heroes’ Day, an annual commemoration of Zimbabweans who lost their lives in the country’s fight for independence. “Even if they die, dogs will not eat their flesh.”

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"We will never go back on our victory. We do not know what is retreating," Mugabe said, according to CNN.

“We are delivering democracy on a platter. Will you take?" Mugabe said, addressing his critics in the West. "We say take it or leave it. We will never go back on our victory."

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party have accused Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party of stealing the election by bribing village leaders with food, turning away 900,000 voters and threatening villagers with harm if they voted for MDC, among other shady moves.

MDC has filed an appeal challenging the election results with Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court, delaying Mugabe’s swearing in for a seventh term. The appeal asks for the election to be declared void and for a new election to be scheduled within 60 days.

The nine-member court is expected to examine the complaint this week and make a decision within two weeks.