Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe is planning to retire after his country’s next elections, it was claimed yesterday.
The 87-year-old tyrant hopes to secure victory at polls this year or in 2013 before handing over to a younger successor, according to a report in South Africa’s Sunday Times.
The newspaper quoted an official who said Mugabe wanted to ensure he could continue living securely and without risk of prosecution following his retirement but had decided it was time to step down following three decades of power.
The unnamed source said: 'The plan is that after the elections the president will retire and hand over power to a senior party official, who will complete his term while consolidating himself or herself.
'The president is now making plans to retire and resolve the succession issue, but only after he gets security guarantees.
'Depending on what constitution would be in place, how the successor comes in would be determined by the constitutional and political circumstances, particularly the outcome of the elections insofar as it concerns the distribution of seats in parliament and the executive arrangement.'
The Sunday Times reported that Mugabe laid out his plan to retire on Wednesday during a meeting of senior officials from his ruling Zanu-PF party.
The former liberation movement has controlled Zimbabwe for almost 32 years since it gained independence from Britain in 1980.
The country was once the breadbasket of Africa but has seen its economy destroyed.
Mugabe has also been blamed for a string of human rights abuses as he used fear and intimidation to ensure his continued control.
He lost a presidential election in 2008 but clung to power and was forced into a unity government with the country’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The two men have led a shaky coalition since February 2009.
But in recent months Mugabe has repeatedly signaled his intention to call fresh polls in the belief he can secure a fresh mandate to rule alone.
The suggestion that he could be preparing to stand down as president follows speculation about his faltering health.
It is widely believed that the octogenarian is suffering from prostrate cancer and he has made several trips to the Far East for medical treatment.
Many in Zimbabwe believe the tyrant would be unable to secure victory at free and fair elections.
However some analysts have argued Mugabe remains his party’s greatest electoral asset.
The Sunday Times reported that several of his senior colleagues were jostling to succeed him but said the country’s defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa was a front-runner to take over.
The newspaper reported: 'Officials close to Mugabe said the veteran leader, in power for 32 years, was scheming to win the next elections by all means necessary and hand over power to a younger leader as part of a strategy to resolve the crisis around his succession and keep Zanu-PF in power.
'Mugabe wants elections this year.
'Senior Zanu-PF officials told the Sunday Times that Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, 66, was earmarked to take over from Mugabe, 88, if he wins the next polls.'
Speculation about Mugabe’s plans for the future follow a turbulent period in Zimbabwe.
The three year old unity government has been credited with returning some economic and social stability to the country following years of chaos.
However in recent months relations between Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change had suffered fresh strain and the government has sunk into paralysis.
Mr Tsvangirai has said he hopes to have a new constitution drawn up before the country returns to the polls.
However Mugabe has said he is prepared to call elections anyway.
Some experts believe his party is preparing to unleash a wave of violence in an attempt to shore up its faltering support.
- IS BOB REALLY GONNA QUIT or IS THIS ANOTHER CAMPAIGN GIMMICK???!
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