Harare — PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday defended Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono challenging those who claim he has done anything wrong to prove it.

President Mugabe reiterated the position that he stated in February this year that Dr Gono was not going anywhere.

He said knives were out for Dr Gono both within the inclusive Government and outside the country, and yet the central bank chief had done a lot to ensure that the country remained on its feet in the wake of illegal sanctions imposed by the United States, Britain and their allies.

President Mugabe was speaking to mourners in Harare yesterday after paying his condolences to the Gono family following the death of the RBZ governor's elder brother, Mr Peter Gono.

"That is the crime he is alleged to have committed, that he stood behind the Government of this man called Robert Mugabe, who must collapse under regime change.

"Today those in Britain are not happy with him, even some in the inclusive Government. They want him to go and I said he will not go, but they will not listen," said President Mugabe, who was accompanied by First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe.

"Haana shereni raakaba. Prove the wrong he has done. In the circumstances there is a loss of his brother, that grief will strike you again for some time and add on to that of your enemies. We say stand with two firm legs, be strong!"

The MDC-T has, since before the formation of the inclusive Government, been angling for Dr Gono's ouster along with agitating for the dismissal of Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana.

However, yesterday, the President said Dr Gono -- through the central bank -- had done a lot to sustain the country through the provision of fertilizer, maize seed and farming equipment.

"But knives are out for this man. They are sharpened knives aimed at beheading this man. Hapana asingazive kuti nenyaya yemasanctions musimboti yedu yakavaRBZ, ndiko kwakabva rubatsiro rwenyika," said the President to rousing applause.

The President said he had come to pay condolences to the Gono family both in his official capacity and because of the social relationship that had developed between the First Family and that of the central bank boss.

He said while he had heard about Mr Peter Gono's ill health, he did not think it would end in his death.

The President noted that the burial of Dr Gono's brother coincided with Africa Day commemorations, a day he described as "great" as it sought to assert the reclamation of independence of all African states.

Speaking on behalf of the Gono family, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu hailed the President for coming to mourn with the family.

He described the President as one of the few remaining statesmen who upheld the principles of former Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah that political independence was meaningless without economic empowerment.

"That economic independence is derived from the soil. That is why you spearheaded the land redistribution," he said.

Among those paying their last respects to Mr Peter Gono yesterday were Harare Governor and Resident Minister David Karimanzira; Health and Child Welfare Deputy Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora; and Tsholotsho South Member of the House of Assembly Professor Jonathan Moyo.

Also extending their condolences were Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri; Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Retired Brigadier-General Happyton Bonyongwe; Media and Information Commission chair Dr Tafataona Mahoso and senior RBZ officials.

Mr Peter Gono, who was buried late yesterday at Chigavaka village in Buhera West, died on Saturday at Harare's West End Clinic after a long illness.

His death means Dr Gono is now the only surviving male member of his family having lost his younger brother last year.

The deceased, who was a well known businessman in the agriculture and construction sectors, was credited with educating Dr Gono.

For 15 years he was based in Botswana before relocating back to Harare two years ago.