via Stop discussing my exit, Mugabe tells his party – nation.co.ke THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014 by Kitsepile Nyathi
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe who turns 90 on Friday says there is no need to talk about his succession because he is not about to retire.
According to extracts of an interview published by the government owned media on Thursday, President Mugabe said he was not happy with the jockeying for his was set to be broadcast on state television on Thursday night.
The veteran ruler, in power since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, said his retirement was not due and those raising the succession issue would divide his party.
He said he does not want to leave Zanu PF divided along factional lines.
“But why should it (succession) be discussed when it is not due? Is it due?” he asked.
“The people can discuss it if they want, but the moment they start they go into factions and then you find the party dividing itself and so why discuss it when it is not due?
President Mugabe added: “When the day comes and I retire, yes, sure the day will come, but I do not want to leave my party in tatters. I want to leave it intact.”
He said those angling to succeed him risked expulsion from Zanu PF as they were fanning factionalism.
DENIED ACCUSATIONS
Vice President Joice Mujuru and Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa have often been identified as leaders of faction jostling to position themselves in the event President Mugabe decides to retire.
However, the two have repeatedly denied the accusations.
President Mugabe said it was “terrible even to have your name mentioned as leader of a faction. It is shameful.”
The Zanu PF factionalism played out during the party’s provincial elections held last December.
There is a belief that any leader whose factions is in pole position ahead of Zanu PF’s next elective congress would stand a better chance to succeed President Mugabe.
But the former school teacher, now of one Africa’s longest serving leaders, promised to ruthlessly crush the camps in his party going forward.
“That is what we are fighting against and I am going to fight against this one quite blatantly because that is what is destroying the party,” he charged.
President Mugabe’s succession has been discussed in hushed tones for decades and he has repeatedly stressed that he is not thinking about retirement. (AFP)
COMMENTS
Bob,
Your exit has been discussed, hoped for, even prayed for, since the mid 80’s. You are a failure. Go.
Tone down Cde, don’t be emotional…accept reallity Bob may be carrying tortoise or crocodile genes.. .it seems he will be around ruling us for the next 15yrs….begin to adjust
President Mugabe is a disaster for Zimbabwe. And he just won’t go away. Shameful.
The message is ,you can steal as much as you want,just leave me alone. The junta got this election for me, no one else but me, me, me ,me. I vowed to be president for life,and if I want ,I can be President in death. The Zanoids love this ,a passport to steal Zimbabwe dry and invest in the west. Wake Zim the coffee is smelling. Do you deserve this Idiot.
This is no joke fellow citizens. This is how best I will remember Mugabe @90 ;
This morning when I was brushing my teeth, the tap that I applied was tasting like faeces. I normally use tap water for brushing my teeth as you do not get to swallow most of it.
Mvura yandanwa kuseni pa birthday rava Mugabe @90 yanga iyine ma Dhodhi!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Am sorry I have had to use this unprintable word but I am telling it like it is. This is a personal matter of which I am contemplating invoking my constitutional right to hold the authorities and executive accountable for their inability to deliver basic sanitation services as they are mandated to do under the new constitution.
This is a consequence of a mafia Government with Mugabe @90 at the helm and not doing anything about Chombo’s malicious corruption and incompetence. I now have to visit the Doctor because of these people’s vices.
And by the way, I don’t know if anyone noticed on Mugabe’s interview last night on ZTV that Mugabe @90 has false teeth.
Keep up the discussion comrades, the health is failing and it wont be long before he falls off his perch. Then you can really start fighting to get to the top of the ladder. I will enjoy watching dog eat dog. You are all as bad as each other. Evil Trash
WHAT IS BOB STILL DOING IN GORVERNMENT? IS HE NOT TYRED OF DESTROYING.
Hapana chisinga pere. Chinobhururuka Chinobhururuka! All things will finally come to an end.
No need to discuss your exit, you are going to meet your maker soon
It’s my guess that said discussion is the only thing keeping Zimbabweans going.
This dog has been a curse to our lives in Zimbabwe for too long. I pray to God to take him away from us now please. May this year be his last on earth. May he rot and burn in hell forever dear God. Amen
Nice picture. I wonder if he found the flea he appears to be looking for?
I think he’s saying “There’s nothing in here”!
THIS SENILE DEMENTED IDIOT HAS GOT NO LIMIT TO ITS SENSE OF IRRESPONSIBILITY. HOW CAN YOU SAY SUCH NONSENSE AT 90. THIS DOG CANNOT EVEN REALISE HOW IT HAS DESTROYED THE COUNTRY. MUGABE CHIFA TIZORORE VANHU VA NETA NEWE MHANI. WHEN ARE GOING TO HAVE A SANE PRESIDENT?
each mugabe opens his mouth he reveals why he can never hold a candle to MANDELA. The latter loved and respected his fellow South africans. Mandela had the humility that come from bein a great man-He stepped down from office and would not let power corrupt him. Mandela was not arrogant to assume that only he could keep the ANC together. Mandela is gone to his eternal rest and the ANC is still going. When mugabe dies, because of his attitude and arrogance, zanupf will die with him.
In addition Mandela is revered by the whole world. mugabe is loathed and reviled. I was honoured to be at Mandela’s funeral and I shed tears because I will miss him. Mandela has made me proud to an African, even though I am not a SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZEN.mugabe has made me ashamed that we both belong to the same country and continent.When mugabe dies I will celebrate, if I shed any tears,they will be tears of relief that the evil he is will finally be removed from Zimbabwe.