Mugabe says he's pro-development

By Alex Singleton | 19 September 2005

Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe told the United Nations this weekend that the economic policies he is following are pro-development:

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has denied his country is in the grip of an avoidable famine, and defended his controversial slum clearance policy. Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Mugabe said the demolition of vast urban areas was an effort to boost law and order and development.

He insisted that the slum clearances were followed by well-planned building projects designed to rehouse the poor.

Some accuse him of bulldozing slums housing opposition supporters.

Mr Mugabe defended the demolitions, insisting that Zimbabwe must move forward, rather than tolerate poverty and haphazard urban development.

And yet, despite Mr Mugabe's rhetoric, the fact remains that his policies have made Zimbabwe the fastest shrinking economy in the world.