(Last Updated on March 3, 2016 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – President Robert Mugabe says those jostling to succeed him before his term expires are day-dreaming.
President Mugabe gave an interview to the ZBC News and Zi-FM today where he talked about various issues among them the need for party cadres to remain disciplined and shun being over ambitious.
“Some are talking of successor why, I am still there. I did not go into the 2013 elections for someone to complete my five year term, which ends in 2018,” said Cde Mugabe.
He ruled out his wife, Dr Grace Mugabe succeeding him, saying the claims are wild exaggerations.
“Where has that happened? Even in the African culture, leaders left behind chose the successor. There are even those saying go in first and I will take over, those a wild suggestions. A leader is elected properly by the congress, it is only the congress that chooses the next leader,” he added.
The President said the candidate to lead Zimbabwe must be ideologically clear, not corruption and scandal tainted.
Cde Mugabe said war vets are part of Zanu PF and cannot be separated from the party, adding that government will continue looking into their welfare, including paying schools fees for their children.
On the so called grand coalition of opposition parties, President Mugabe said grand is just a word, ‘you cannot come together just for the sake of for regime change, if that is what they are up to, they are lost.’
On quality of African leaders, he said some of them have the enthusiasm but lack ideological clarity and commitment which the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) founding fathers had.