- Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, has renewed scathing attacks on his country's former colonial master and opponents of his regime, warning against recolonisation of the southern African country.
"Down with the British. Down with thieves who want to steal our country," Mr Mugabe told thousands of people who stormed the Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield to celebrate Zimbabwe's 28 years of independence from Britain.
Mr Mugabe, who became Zimbabwe's first Prime Minister after his country became independent in 1980, played a crucial role in Zimbabwe's struggle to attain nationhood.
He emphasised the importance of the day Zimbabwe "finally shook off the chains of British racist settler colonialism."
"Our political history is well known, yet with time, we feel more challenged to recall it, especially for those who appear ignorant of it or are deliberately engaged in reversing the gains of our liberation struggle," he argued, picking bones with Britain for criticising Zimbabwe's human rights credentials and political system. He said democracy was established in the country after independence.
"We, not the British, established democracy based on one person, one vote, democracy which rejected racial or gender discrimination and upheld human rights and religious freedom."
Zimbabwean leader would not understand why the former colonialists still want to direct his country's affairs in "more subtle forms," after all they have used "brute forces to subjugate our people and plunder our resources" for so many years. He ruled out any attempt to recolonise Zimbabwe.
He announced his government's attempts to contain several challenges facing Zimbabweans, including shortage of food and unemployment.
Mr Mugabe's arch-rival and leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, said the independence day is the saddest since "our liberation from colonial rule." For him, there is little to celebrate when vast majority of people grapple with starvation.
On Thursday, the United Kingdom issued a travel advice, informing its citizens to be wary of the current unpredictable, volatile and quickly deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.
"In the absence of officially confirmed results of the presidential election there continues to be a high level of political tension and uncertainity," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned, advising British travellers in the country to keep a low profile, exercise a high decree of caution, monitor local news reports and avoid all areas where demonstrations may be held.
Farmers and agricultural workers have also been advised to avoid visiting their farms, especially where "War Veterans are active" because a number of such visits have led to confrontation and violence.
The European Commission has not only called for the immediate publication of Zimbabwe's presidential election results, but it would not also accept any further delay.
"Clearly the publication of the results is needed and is needed now," a Spokesperson of the commission, John Clancy, stressed.
"Further delays are unacceptable and will just be considered as stalling the democratic process," he said, adding that "European Commission along with the rest of the international community continues to watch and wait for action."
Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has accused Mr Tsvangirai of treason because he was working with Britain to effect a regime change in the country.
Mr Tsvangirai, who had called for the setting up of a special United Nations tribunal to prosecute perpetrators of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, rubbished the treason allegations.
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