Archbishop Tutu once told a Dutch media that Mugabe had ruined "a wonderful country", turning a "bread-basket" into a "basket case".

The once hailed reconciliatory figure of Zimbabwe said his country is presently going through a lot of difficulties as a result of "illegal and unjustifiable" sanctions imposed on them in "the last ten years by the West." Mugabe who is presently in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly told the CNN's Amanpour on Thursday: "I'm not here for Obama but here to address the UNGA. We're entitled to discuss matters affecting us in a global environment... the sanctions on us must be lifted."

Mugabe who appeared nervous and found it difficult chosing words at the beginning of the interview - his first with an international media in five years - added: "The continuous imperialist interference in our affairs must stop...I'll not leave power when imperialists dictate to me." He said holding on to power does not mean he fears the International Criminal Court of Justice will go after him at the end of his presidency. "I don't care about the ICC. I'm concerned about Zimbabwe and the lives of people in Zimbabwe."

Mugabe fumed when the hostess told him he "won a rigged election". He stated: "Elections don't go smoothly all the time. 400,000 votes were stolen by President Bush in Florida and you people said nothing about it... My people think highly of me and our inclusive government is a real power-sharing arrangement and don't disintegrate it."

Touching on brain drain that has hit his country, Mugabe said it is not only the former British Colony that is suffering from the problem. He said all over the world people are leaving to places where there is greener pastures and must not be limited to Zimbabwe alone. He dismissed the suggestion that the land reform has caused the country a alot. "The land reform is the best that could ever had happened to an African country... we are getting rid of slums not farm workers (with regards to black farmers being evicted from their homes)".

Mugabe is Zimbabwe's first black president who came to power in 1980. Among some of his controversial quotes is "I'll never surrender Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is mine." - December 2008.