President Mugabe yesterday threatened that his administration will not hesitate to kick out British and American ambassadors if they continue fanning unrest by funding vendors to resist relocation to designated areas. Officially opening the Global Small and Medium Enterprises Expo in Harare, the President warned the two ambassadors to stop fomenting anarchy here.
"The resistance by vendors, we see the British and American ambassadors coming to the vendors and giving them money wanting them to continue to resist and these are ambassadors of countries that have sanctions on us," he said.
"So, we have said if they continue doing that we will kick them out of the country."
President Mugabe said Zimbabweans were known worldwide as enlightened people and it was incumbent upon them not to be led into anarchy.
He said Americans and the British were averse to peace in developing countries and "just want to see chaos, people fighting each other, terrorism everywhere."
President Mugabe said the British and Americans behaved as if they were possessed by demons that did not want to see peace prevailing in the South African nation.
"What demons do they have? Apoka ndopanomuka shave rangu ipapo. When a person insists on wanting to do wrong things to undermine the peace and calm of a nation, to undermine the unity of a people, then they are no good for us," he said.
"We don't need the British ambassador here; we don't need the American ambassador here. But they would want diplomatic representation with us. We don't do that in their respective countries. So, they have to behave. Behave and you will be in peace with us, misbehave and we will kick you out right from the bottom. It's our country."
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe is an independent State that cherishes peace, which is a prerequisite for economic development.
"Hongu kana wakanga wawana nzvimbo yako, haisi nzvimbo yedahwa, dahwaka munoziva kuti rinoramba richi dzokera netsuro. Aiwa, kana wakanga wawana nzvimbo pawakanga usati wawanikidzwa uchiita mari, isiri nzvimbo yakanaka, wazowanikidzwa toti toda kukugadzirai zvakanaka tiise mastores pamunofanira kutengesera, aah kwete dzava nharo," President Mugabe said.
He urged vendors to relocate to designated areas and not turn urban centres into circuses for fomenting chaos and confusion.
"Asika tinenge tisingade mvonga-mvonga, magariro atinoona kune dzimwe nyika where you see goats in the city centre like in First Street," said President Mugabe.
"That's what I once witnessed in West Africa, no, we want to ensure that those who have shops are able to sell their wares freely, and then, goats must go kumbudzi."
President Mugabe commended the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Sithembiso Nyoni for organising the Small and Medium Expo and urged her to ensure that similar future expos are well publicised so that they become larger.
President Mugabe said it was an acknowledged fact that the SME sector plays a pivotal role in the economic development of many countries.
He said according to the International Finance Corporation of 2012, there are more than 125 million SMEs globally absorbing about 67 percent of employment, and contributing more than 51 percent to the gross domestic product.
"Locally, SMEs employ more than 60 percent of the country's workforce and contribute over 50 percent to the country's GDP," said President Mugabe.
"Having recognised the importance of such a viable and dynamic sector, essential and pivotal for economic development, we in Zimbabwe established the Ministry of SMEs and Cooperatives."
President Mugabe urged SMEs to obtain local and global certification standards so that their products can compete in the global economy.
He said entrepreneurs should take advantage of Zimbabwe's geographical location which is strategically placed at the Centre of Sadc and the COMESA region.
President Mugabe said the Government was committed to addressing challenges being faced by SMEs which include lack of appropriate workspace, regulatory challenges and limited lines of credit.
