Accessibility links

Breaking News

Mugabe: I Will Not Quit


Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday told his supporters that he would not relinquish power and accused those angling to succeed him of committing treason.

Thousands of people marched in the streets of Harare in solidarity with President Mugabe they described as a world icon.

At the final destination of the march, Mr. Mugabe, who turned 92 this year, told his supporters that those who want him to retire should “go and hang”.

The president also accused those pushing factional agendas in his party of committing treason. His wife, Grace Mugabe, who described her husband as “irreplaceable”, is reportedly leading a faction called Generation 40 that wants to take over from the veteran leader once he leaves office while Vice President Emmerson Mnangwagwa is reportedly leading another camp calling itself Team Lacoste.

Zanu PF youth league secretary Kudzai Chipanga accused some unnamed ministers of wasting the country’s resources by holding unnecessary conferences in luxurious hotels and buying expensive vehicles at the expense of service delivery.

Thomas Chiripasi Reports on Zanu PF's Million Man March
please wait

No media source currently available

0:00 0:04:57 0:00
Direct link

Chipanga also asked President Mugabe to ensure that youths had access to land to do farming and build houses which was later promised by Mr. Mugabe.

On unemployment, the president made told his supporters that youths should create their own jobs. Ahead of the 2013 national elections,

Mr. Mugabe promised Zimbabweans that his administration would more two million new jobs. But today, the story was different.

Some Zanu PF supporters, who were part of the march, praised their leader. Makonde legislator, Kindness Paradza, told Studio 7 that the peaceful demonstration was a clear message to the international community that President Mugabe was there to stay.

This was also echoed by Godfrey Chimwanda from Mashonaland East Province.

Some of the demonstrators allegedly assaulted suspected opposition supporters, who were doing their own business in the central business district, while some buses and trucks drivers that were ferrying people to the demonstration allegedly refused to pay road user fees at tollgates.

Zanu PF had targeted to bring one million people to the demonstration that was dubbed “One Million Man March” but Chipanga said they faced logistical problems resulting in many people failing to attend the event.

But Independent political analyst Dumisani Nkomo said the million man march was a waste of resources.

Interview With Dumisani Nkomo on Million Man March
please wait

No media source currently available

0:00 0:01:47 0:00
Direct link

XS
SM
MD
LG