Nairobi — Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe today lashed at the West for allegedly promoting imperialism, exploiting Africa resources and sponsoring his opponents.

Speaking at the Comesa summit in Nairobi, President Mugabe praised his Government's demolition of slums in Harare, acquisition of farms owned by white settlers and police crackdown on the opposition which recently left MDC party leader Morgan Shangirai hospitalised.

He said his Govenment's acquisition of white owned farms and distribution to locals was inspired by Kenya's pre-independence Mau Mau struggle.

Giving vote of thanks following the end of 12th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Heads of State and Governments Summit in Nairobi, President Mugabe said African countries should resist political and economic emancipation by the West.

He said intra-Africa trade should be promoted and projects whose existence solely relied on outside funding avoided.

President Mugabe said Africa should move away from only being producers of raw materials but also engage in value addition for development.

"Value addition in economy is also value addition in political terms," President Mugabe said.

He regretted that most commodities produced in Africa were priced elsewhere.

"Prices paid by us are fixed by others upon valuation by others. They are the great ones and we are the small ones," he said.

President Mugabe thanked Comesa Heads of State and Governments for appointing him vice-chairman of the 12th Summit. He welcomed the leaders for the next Summit to be held in Harare in May, 2008.