Robert Mugabe

Meg Vaillancourt reports that Robert Mugabe (Prime Minister of Zimbabwe) was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of Mugabe receiving his doctoral hood from Maki Mandela (daughter of Nelson Mandela) and footage from Mugabe's speech and press conference. Vaillancourt reports that Mugabe spoke out against apartheid in South Africa and advocated sanctions against the South African government. Vaillancourt reviews Mugabe's career. Comments on President Reagan's political actions concerning Apartheid. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of Mugabe in Zimbabwe. 1:00:06: Visual: Footage of Robert Mugabe (Prime Minister of Zimbabwe) speaking at the commencement ceremonies at University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Mugabe applauds the US Congress for considering sanctions against South Africa. Meg Vaillancourt says that Mugabe talked about sanctions against South Africa in his speech at UMass Amherst; that Mugabe was honored by the university for "his efforts to establish racial harmony between blacks and whites." Vaillancourt notes that Mugabe was presented with an honorary doctorate of laws. V: Shot of Mugabe receiving his doctoral hood from Maki Mandela (daughter of Nelson Mandela). Vaillancourt reports that Mugabe became Zimbabwe's first prime minister in 1980; that Zimbabwe had been known as Rhodesia under colonial rule. V: Shots of Mugabe and his cabinet in 1980; of white colonial rulers before 1980; of a newspaper headline reading, "Black Hitler." Vaillancourt reports that Mugabe was a fierce opponent of apartheid in neighboring South Africa; that Mugabe had spent ten years in prison before emerging as the leader of the Zimbabwean struggle for independence. V: Shots of Mugabe in the Zimbabwean Parliament; of Mugabe being led away by two police officers; of Mugabe entering a military garrison. Vaillancourt notes that Mugabe is a strong supporter of black South African leaders. V: Footage of Mugabe at a press conference. Mugabe says that he advocates using all legitimate means to overthrow apartheid; that he advocates armed struggle against South Africa. Mugabe says that he can understand the desire to fight apartheid using non-violent means. Mugabe encourages the use of "maximum non-violence" through sanctions and political pressure. Shot of the press at the press conference. Vaillancourt says that Mugabe dismissed concerns that sanctions would hurt South African blacks. V: Footage of Mugabe saying that black South Africans are already suffering and dying under apartheid; that black South Africans are prepared to suffer under sanctions because they will yield a positive result. Vaillancourt says that Mugabe was questioned about his leadership of Zimbabwe; that there have been accusations of human rights violations in Zimbabwe under Mugabe. V: Shots of Mugabe in a government building; of Zimbabwean troops uncovering an arms cache. Vaillancourt reports that Mugabe says that he has detained those who have tried to overthrow his government. V: Footage of Mugabe at the commencement ceremony. Mugabe says that the struggle for human rights is a universal struggle. Vaillancourt stands on the campus of UMass Amherst. Vaillancourt says that Ronald Reagan (US President) is trying to win enough votes in the US Congress to sustain his veto of sanctions against South Africa. Vaillancourt notes that Reagan is promising an African American ambassador to South Africa as part of his weaker sanctions package; that Reagan is expressing concern over a disruption of summit talks if sanctions are approved by Congress. Vaillancourt adds that Mugabe said that the time for compromise in South Africa is over.