Mugabe nominated as party’s candidate in next election

HARARE, Monday

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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has emerged unscathed from weekend nominations of his party’s presidium marred by factional fighting.
The nomination means the 85 year old leader will now lead his Zanu PF party into another election around 2013.

Mr Mugabe who has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 was nominated by nine out of 10 provinces that met to choose members of the presidium.

Brushed aside

One of his deputies, Mrs Joice Mujuru also brushed aside a token challenge from the leader of the Zanu PF women’s league to secure her position for another five years.
But the nominations failed to produce an outright winner for the second slot of vice president and party chairman due to factionalism.

At least four provinces failed to make nominations due to deep seated divisions. In the Midlands province, the exercise could not even take off because of major disagreements in the leadership.

The province is home to Defence Minister Mr Mnangagwa, who leads one of the three factions in Zanu PF.

The two posts of vice president are seen as a stepping stone to Mr Mugabe’s post although there is little indication he will retire anytime soon.

Mr Mugabe has led Zanu PF since the start of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle in the 1960s.

Despite, his reluctance to step down there is serious jostling for his post in the party.