The Herald newspaper, a government mouthpiece, quoted him telling members of the party's central committee: "I was reading recent utterances by Condoleezza Rice [the US secretary of state] that African leaders are not prepared to topple President Mugabe and bring about regime change.

"She condemned this inability on the part of African leaders.

"How could African leaders ever topple Robert Mugabe, organise an army to come? It is not easy. I do not know of any African country that is brave enough to do that."

He could include the UN, Europe in that statement as well....