Mugabe to stand for 6th term

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s veteran President Robert Mugabe was set to be endorsed by his party to stand in next year’s presidential elections as thousands of supporters converged on Harare for a crucial congress yesterday.

According to a copy of the programme for the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) congress, the party would declare Mugabe as its candidate for presidential elections early 2008. Zanu-PF national chairperson John Nkomo was quoted by the state-controlled Herald as saying that at least 10 000 members from the country’s 10 provinces were accredited to attend the congress at a Harare sports stadium.”The figure does not include our support staff,” he said, adding that more were still trickling in.Mugabe was expected to make a keynote address on the state of the party and the country’s economy and political situation.The 83-year-old, in power since independence from British colonial rule in 1980 wanted to stand for a sixth term in the joint presidential and legislative polls.Although he was seen as having earlier anointed one of his deputies Joyce Mujuru as his successor, he declared last year that there was no vacancy for presidency.He also castigated senior party members for jostling for his post, saying some of them were consulting faith healers under the cover of darkness to enhance their chances.Zimbabwe was in the throes of economic crisis characterised by annual inflation perched at nearly 8 000% and mass unemployment, while at least 80% of the country’s population was living below the poverty threshold.Nampa-AFPZanu-PF national chairperson John Nkomo was quoted by the state-controlled Herald as saying that at least 10 000 members from the country’s 10 provinces were accredited to attend the congress at a Harare sports stadium.”The figure does not include our support staff,” he said, adding that more were still trickling in.Mugabe was expected to make a keynote address on the state of the party and the country’s economy and political situation.The 83-year-old, in power since independence from British colonial rule in 1980 wanted to stand for a sixth term in the joint presidential and legislative polls.Although he was seen as having earlier anointed one of his deputies Joyce Mujuru as his successor, he declared last year that there was no vacancy for presidency.He also castigated senior party members for jostling for his post, saying some of them were consulting faith healers under the cover of darkness to enhance their chances.Zimbabwe was in the throes of economic crisis characterised by annual inflation perched at nearly 8 000% and mass unemployment, while at least 80% of the country’s population was living below the poverty threshold.Nampa-AFP