Retire? Not now, vows Mugabe

HARARE, Sunday

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has said that he will not retire as long as the country faced threats of re-colonisation from Western countries.

Closing the 12th Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo on Saturday, Mugabe said that for him to retire when the country was under siege from Western countries would be a betrayal of those who fought and died to liberate Zimbabwe.

Western countries, led by the country’s former colonial power Britain, are aggressively seeking to re-colonise the country through puppet political parties they are helping to take over power, President Mugabe said.

Effect regime change

“Sometimes the call comes to retire. I will do that when I reach a stage where I think those who departed will be satisfied that the party is moving ahead without any interests but not when the West is still working to effect regime change and when we are still in the inclusive government,” he was quoted as saying, referring to the coalition government which runs the country.

Mugabe said retiring, in the face of the threats, would be an act of cowardice on his part.

He said he was committed to serve the party and country diligently as he has always done, starting from the days when he was incarcerated by colonial regimes.

Mugabe, 87, was unanimously chosen at the conference to stand as ZANU-PF’s presidential candidate in elections planned for next year.

(Xinhua)