PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday scoffed at the alleged plot by the MDC leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, to assassinate him, saying this will not stop the current revolution to repossess land.

Reacting for the first time to the alleged plot by Mr Tsvangirai to kill him which was broadcast in Australia, the President told thousands of supporters at a rally at Neuso Primary School in Sanyati that he had survived many attempts on his life before and after independence.

An Australian television network has broadcast a video clip about a meeting between Mr Tsvangirai and representatives of a Canadian consultancy firm, Dickens & Madson in which a plot to assassinate Cde Mugabe was discussed.

"We have heard that Mr Tsvangirai went and planned with some whites to be given US$500 000 to behead President Mugabe. So do they think if they behead me this revolution would stop? Ndinovamukira. God is the one who looks after all of us. I survived many bombs even when we were in Mozambique. Throughout the war many bombs were sent to me through parcels and letters," he said.

Cde Mugabe said soon after independence he survived many assassination attempts.

He cited an attempt in Masvingo when a bomb missed him on his way to Masvingo airport.

"Ndizvo zvave kuitwa naTsvangirai nekuti ave kudya mundiro imwe chete nana Coltart, Auret nemaSelous Scouts avari kuisa muparty yavo. (This is what Mr Tsvangirai is now doing. He is now dining with our former enemies.)

He said Mr Tsvangirai had failed his 'O' levels and had run away from the war.

"Irema redu, kana munhu ari chitototo kana chura, kungoti chete chura chinoziva mumvura machinogara. Ndonzwa kuti akapasa zvikanzi tione chitupa chako akabudisa ma U,U,U,U,U.

Cde Mugabe said Mr Tsvangirai had run away from the war because he was afraid of the training.

"Pfocho hapana akazoona kuti kwaakaenda nako ndekupi. Ko zvino kana watiza zvakoka uri mutyutyutyu. Ko yowoda kutivambira nemabhunu nanaBlair yava yei? Chitonhora zvako udye sadza wakaguta. Zvowoita zvitama zvakadaro harisi sadza redu here?

The President said after 22 years, the people should not forget the revolution that brought the country's independence.

He warned people against selling out and being puppets of the former white oppressors were defeated during the armed struggle.

The oppressors were coming back using blacks as puppets.

These blacks were now worshipping whites as if they were God.

He said while Zimbabwe might experience problems like any other country because of the looming drought this should not lead people to sell out to the white oppressors as if they were the ones that would bring rain.

"The time has now come to address the land imbalance and crush the head of the snake once and for all."

Cde Mugabe said the British were sponsoring the MDC because they were against the land reform programme.

He once again laughed off reports that he owned property in Scotland. He said he never thought of buying property in Scotland or anywhere else, because his roots were in Zimbabwe.

"I told them to go and seize what ever property they will find belonging to me. They have not come back since then but I have heard South Africans saying they had asked Tony Blair whether it was true that I owned property there. And they were told that Mr Mugabe was clean as if I was dirty in the first place," he said.

He reiterated that no one would starve as a result of the looming drought. He said the Government would start public works programmes and continue to distribute food throughout the country.

Cde Mugabe said the Government was going to resuscitate the supplementary feeding scheme to benefit children.

At least 30 tonnes of maize had been delivered to Sanyati Business Centre and was ready for distribution in the area.

At his first rally in Hurungwe, Cde Mugabe reiterated that he was not afraid of dying in the struggle to defend the country's independence and give land back to the people despite plots by the MDC to assassinate him.

Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters Cde Mugabe said: I am not afraid of dying for the country. Chero ndikafa vamwe vachamuka vachienda mberi nehondo iyi (even if I die others will carry on with the struggle to repossess our land and defend our sovereignty and heritage," he told a jubilant gathering at Matawo Secondary School.

Cde Mugabe said he believed God also protected principled people who fight for the rights of their fellow nationals.

He said such acts and his vilification by Britain and its partners in the European Union and the Commonwealth hardened him to carry on with land reform and empowering people.

"(Tony) Blair and his government keep scurrying all over to mobilise against Zimbabwe. They can do anything but they will not succeed in making us give up the land reform programme. Ini ndatove dhindindi chairo (I am even more hardened and resolute)"

He wondered whether the change the MDC was advocating for was that of violence and killing people.

"Vanongoti chinja chinja nekupakata mapfumo mapanga nemiseve kuti vaponde vatungamiriri. Ndomaitiro anatea boy (Mr Tsvangirai) "They talk of change and we wonder whether the change is about killing and violence. That's their ideologies these teaboys", he said in reference to the MDC leader, while addressing traditional leaders before the start of the rally.

Chief Chanetsa told the President that they were worried by the actions of the MDC and its leader. "We are dismayed that Mr Tsvangirai wants to kill you when you are leading such a crucial struggle", said Chief Chanetsa.

Chief Musambakukamba added: "In Omay we don't even know him (Mr Tsvangirai). He has not done anything good for us and I can assure you that Omay is a Zanu-PF stronghold Mr President and you can bank on our votes in the election." The chiefs paid tribute to the Government for providing food to people in their areas after last year's poor harvest caused by excessive rains.

Cde Mugabe said the Government would again provide food assistance this year to the people in the area should they need it.

"But as we flew over we noticed that your maize crop is in a good condition and you can expect a good harvest.

"We will come and buy surplus maize if you have it so that we can assist others in some parts were the crops have been destroyed by the persistent dry spell."

On the land issue, Cde Mugabe said the government will continue to acquire land for resettlement even if it meant reducing the hectarage of conservancies.

"Today Britain is feeling defeated and we pay tribute to France, Spain, Italy, Sadc, China, the OAU and some Commonwealth members who have supported us over the issue and resisted to be misled by Britain".

The First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe gave six sewing machines to women in the area and $250 000 to Matawo Secondary School. President Mugabe received two beasts, a plough and two goats from the Hurungwe and Karoi councils and Cde Marko Madiro West Zanu-PF MP and his wife.

Meanwhile, Cde Mugabe will today address two rallies at Mubaira Growth Point in Mhondoro and Murombedzi Growth Point in Zvimba.