Old Mugabe declares to contest 2018 election says there's no replacement for him
Zimbabwe’s long-serving President, Robert Mugabe has declared his intention to run for the 2018 elections in his address to his ruling ZANU-PF party while also noting that the people of Zimbabwe see no viable successor to him for next year’s general polls.
Mugabe, the world’s oldest national leader has been confirmed by his party as its candidate for the next presidential election expected in mid-2018, when he will be 94.
Speaking while addressing party faithfuls, Mugabe said; “They want me to stand for elections, they want me to stand for elections everywhere in the party,” Mugabe said in comments to state media.
“The majority of the people feel that there is no replacement, successor who to them is acceptable, as acceptable as I am.”
His declaration is coming days after his wife, Grace suggested when speaking to the supporters of the ruling party that citizens of her country will still vote for her husband’s corpse, even when he is dead.
The wife of the 92-year-old leader who is seen as a possible successor to her ailing husband, made the comments without mincing words saying the move will show how people of Zimbabwe love their president.
‘One day when God decides that Mugabe dies, we will have his corpse appear as a candidate on the ballot paper. You will see people voting for Mugabe as a corpse. I am seriously telling you — just to show people how people love their president, she added.
Grace also accused some ruling Zanu-PF party officials of plotting to take over from her husband and said that if he dies supporters should put his name on the ballot to show their love for him.
In a couple of days, February 21st to be precise, Mugabe, who has been in power since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 will turn 93 with a grand celebration party planned in the next six days.
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