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MUGABE Turns 88, Vows To Stay In Power
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe turned 88 on Tuesday, vowing to stay in power despite grumbling inside his party that he should hand over to a younger leader, and international condemnation of his economic and human rights record. Mugabe said he was healthy and fit, in an interview with state television aired late on Monday, and made no reference to media reports that he is receiving treatment for prostate cancer in Singapore.
“At this age I can still go some distance, can’t I,” Mugabe said, laughing, clapping his hands and rocking in his chair. Mugabe once charmed global figures with his wit and intellect in the early years of his rule when a relatively rich Zimbabwe was praised for its education and social systems. But he has since become a pariah in the West, blamed for running the economy into the ground and for massive human rights abuses to keep his grip on power. Mugabe, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, said his party ZANU-PF would choose his successor at the right time, but he had no intention of stepping down for now.
“Our members of the party will certainly select someone once I say I am now retiring, but not yet,” he said in the interview. Asked whether his party still had anything more to offer after more than three decades in power, Mugabe said ZANU-PF’s signature policies remained the defence of political independence and the pursuit of black economic empowerment. Critics say ZANU-PF has helped ruin one of Africa’s most promising economies with its seizures and distribution of white-owned commercial farms, and its more recent drive to force foreign-owned firms to transfer majority shareholdings to Zimbabweans.
Mugabe has shared power with long-time foe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over the last three years after violent and disputed elections in 2008. Mugabe has been nominated as ZANU-PF party’s candidate and intends to run in an election he wants held this year. That would be a year ahead of schedule under the power-sharing deal which also calls for a new constitution to be drawn up and approved ahead of the poll. “It’s not a secret that there is grumbling in the party over his decision to go on and on, but those seeking to succeed him are not strong enough to challenge him,” said Eldred Masunungure, a political science professor at the University of Zimbabwe. “They are stuck with him for better or worse, and the attitude in ZANU-PF appears to be — lets hope for the best,” Masunungure added.
Posted by Editor
on February 22, 2012. Filed under AROUND AFRICA.
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zavisco
February 22, 2012 at 8:08 am
chikala uyu alipena zoona who does he think he is?
zexlink
February 22, 2012 at 8:13 am
Power has got its own dynamics…the longer you stay in it the more you cease to have it but instead you want to become it.
fili uko tuleya na ba tata ba mugabe
Zim
February 22, 2012 at 8:24 am
Go mugabe go.
daizy
February 22, 2012 at 8:37 am
the basterd hud resing from power.armtole yakwe
KELVINTAMARA.N.Z.N.
February 22, 2012 at 8:58 am
God’s time is always the best time. Prayer for the big man Mugabe and leave everything to God. Gaddaffi was more powerful than Mugabe,where is he now? Who knew Libya would be without Gaddie one??
Uncle p
February 22, 2012 at 9:04 am
Uncle mugabe has a heart for africa & he would anything to remain in power in the name of being agreat ” PATRIOT.” but he must entrust his idealogy with the younger generations, he just has to get other views as well. abash dictatorship in africa!!
Champi
February 22, 2012 at 9:11 am
Mugabe, his tym will come. That man will not leave presidency for any reason but on account of DEATH.
Nkana
February 22, 2012 at 9:48 am
Power corrupts,absolute power corrupts absolutely
Muk
February 22, 2012 at 10:03 am
Walafwila pakapuna iwe chikala nobukote bob.
Harriet
February 22, 2012 at 10:32 am
Watch out, April 16 is just a few weeks from now.
BLAISE COLLINS MBULO
February 22, 2012 at 12:12 pm
@MUGABE,U CN STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT EVEN AGAINST YO OWN PIPO’S WILL.WE’VE HAD GREAT GREAT NAMES IN PRESIDENCY/DICTATOR,GADAFI,SADDAM,MUBARAK….I STOP HERE!
linnette
February 22, 2012 at 1:26 pm
camaan out iwe madala!Idi Amin the second!
chriss
February 22, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Iwe kamuntu, another five yr term ……… that adds up to 93 yrs of age amazing Bob! Bushe finshi fyabamo mu plot one? First lady move in twapapata……… Maureen advise ba Grace. I rest my case.
power corrupts
February 23, 2012 at 4:41 am
leadership and political wisdom are not the preserve of the freedom fighters, nah! give others chance to rule and lead or else you’ll go down the grave a villain
Chikala
February 23, 2012 at 7:28 am
But uyu chikala tomfwa maa.
Butt naked
February 23, 2012 at 8:15 am
Kwena. Im shocked.
Sadi
February 23, 2012 at 11:27 am
I THINK THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR ZIMBABWEANS IS TO DO WHAT LIBYA DID TO GADDAFI, HE’S TOO STUBBORN FOR NOTHING, 88YRS NANGU KUTEMWA UKUTEKA????????
akapondo
February 25, 2012 at 9:38 am
Abaifi bafwa pakunya.