CRIS CHINAKA, Harare | Wednesday
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe says he will stand in the countrys 2002 presidential election, saying he was the best hope for his ruling Zanu-PF party.
“Yes of course I am going to stand. I would like to see my party – which shall win – win,” Mugabe, 77, told Zimbabwean state television in his first public comment on whether he would run again for office.
“All this noise about Mugabe and so on is fear of the old man. So the old man must see the party win and we will take our decision thereafter,” he said.
Mugabe had been publicly silent on his political future, raising speculation that the veteran African leader might choose a successor to lead Zanu-PF into next year’s election.
But Mugabe said that he would not retire until he was sure Zanu-PF could survive without him or his two vice presidents, Joseph Msika and Simon Muzenda.
Mugabe has tightened his grip on Zanu-PF in the past two months by dissolving the party’s provincial executive committees and installing hand-picked loyalists.
Those who have dared to criticise his stewardship as Zimbabwe falls deeper into recession and political chaos have been replaced by loyal war veterans and former state security officers to lead Zanu-PF’s presidential campaign.
Mugabe, who led a seven-year bush war for independence against Ian Smith’s Rhodesia in the 1970s, accused the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of being a front for whites bent on retaining economic power.
“We cannot allow Ian Smith to rule again … A white does not change and as long as he does not change why should we,” Mugabe said.
The MDC won nearly half of 120 contested seats in the June poll and says it would have beaten Zanu-PF but for a violent campaign that left at least 31 mainly opposition supporters dead. Political analysts fear guns and clubs will again be the instruments of persuasion in the presidential campaign. – Reuters
ZA*NOW:
Zims ruling party terrorises business April 13, 2001
Megalomaniac Mugabe up to old tricks April 5, 2001
Mugabe scoffs at farmers’ dialogue call March 25, 2001
Zim’s white farmers offer olive branch March 22, 2001
Zimbabwe snubs mission and ‘British diktat’ March 21, 2001
SA, Zim hold talks on ‘deep economic crisis’ March 20, 2001
Bob battles to grasp rule of law March 19, 2001
Intervention body worried about Zim March 16, 2001
Zim minister bellows at ‘racist’ UK March 15, 2001
Now Mugabe cracks down on the clergy March 11, 2001
Mugabes war on opposition not over March 5, 2001
Bitter stand-off looms in Zimbabwe March 1, 2001
World wags warning finger at defiant Zim February 19, 2001
Mugabe government plumbs new depths February 18, 2000