Mugabe insists on new elections this year

HARARE: Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe insisted that new elections be held this year with or without a new constitution agreed to in his power-sharing deal with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

“Yes, sure, this year,” Mugabe said in an interview on state television on the eve of his 88th birthday yesterday, responding to a question on when new elections were likely.

“We just must have elections. They just must take place with or without a new constitution.

“If others don’t want to have an election, then they are free not to participate,” he added.

“Nobody is forced to go to an election but definitely I will exercise my presidential powers in accordance with the main principal law, the constitution of our country, and announce when the election will take place.”

Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980, was chosen in December by his ZANU-PF party to stand again as its presidential candidate.

He said in the interview he had no plans to retire anytime soon.

“It’s the people who can find a successor,” he said.

“I came from the people and the people, in their wisdom, our members of the party, will certainly select someone once I say I am now retiring, but not yet.

“At this age I can still go some distance, can’t I?”