Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party on Saturday proposed extending veteran President Robert Mugabe’s term by another two years, giving him a full three decades in power.
”The committee reaffirms the leadership of President Robert Mugabe as the leader of the party,” Elliot Manyika, chairperson of a committee on the state of the party, told the party’s annual conference.
”There should be no debate on succession because there is no vacancy. The committee agreed to have harmonised polls, which should be held in 2010,” Manyika said at the conference at Goromonzi High School, about 50km east of the capital.
On Thursday, Mugabe had said it would make sense for presidential and parliamentary elections — scheduled for 2008 and 2010 respectively — to be held simultaneously.
The party’s youth wing also backed the extension of Mugabe’s term of office. ”Our first resolution is that we are always preoccupied with elections. We feel if they are harmonised we will have time for other things, especially us as youths who are always campaigning,” Absalom Sikhosana, youth chairperson, said.
The women’s league also supported Mugabe’s continued reign. ”Women are saying you must remain in power; that is the only way we can be guaranteed safety because there are too many people who want your position,” Women’s League chairperson Oppah Muchinguri said.
”We are happy you said there are no vacancies,” she said, amid applause from party faithful.
The 82-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence from British colonial rule in 1980, had previously indicated he would retire when his term expired in 2008.
On Thursday he lashed out at party leaders jockeying to succeed him, saying there was ”no vacancy” at the top.
If Mugabe were to extend his presidency, he would need Parliament to approve an amendment to the Constitution. However, such a vote should be a mere formality given the party’s majority in Parliament.
Speaking at the conference, Mugabe bemoaned the serious factionalism in the party. ”Almost in every province we hear of friction and factions,” he said. ”We hear that these people belong to so and so and this faction. There is no leader who owns people. The people belong to the party. You can’t claim to own people.”
He said the divisions rocking the governing party are a sad state of affairs, adding: ”Let there be unity. Let there be greater understanding.”
Mugabe also paid tribute to his supporters for backing him, particularly in his defiance of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and United States President George Bush, two of his strongest critics. ”I wish to thank you for your support, I am what I am because of you,” he said.
”When I stand up against Mr Blair and Mr Bush, saying you can’t change the regime in Zimbabwe, I know I will have your every support behind me, because I will be standing up for you.
”Of course I will be fighting for your rights and national sovereignty, your right to determine who should govern you. It should not be determined in London.”
The Southern African nation is in the midst of an economic crisis characterised by inflation of more than 1 000% and massive unemployment, with at least 80% of the population living below the poverty threshold.
Mugabe rejects foreign criticism that his regime is responsible for the situation, blaming external factors instead. — Sapa-AFP