Old age haunts Mugabe's political life
2013-02-22 07:58
Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe turned 89 on
Thursday determined to extend his grip on power despite concerns over his
health and advanced age.
Africa's oldest leader and world's second oldest after
Shimon Peres of Israel, Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from
Britain in 1980.
Despite speculation over his physical fitness Mugabe
accepted nomination from his Zanu-PF party to stand for another five-year term
in elections due in July.
But doubts have been cast on whether he still has the
physical and mental stamina to go through an election campaign and complete
another full term.
"Mugabe's age and health will not allow him to remain
active," said Blessing Vava, a Harare-based independent political
commentator.
"Look at Pope Benedict XVI who recently announced his
retirement at 85, saying his body and health does not allow him to carry duties
that he used to do."
Observers think Mugabe wants to cling onto power for as long
as is possible, then pick a successor of choice who will ensure he is shielded
from prosecution for any rights abuses he may face.
"He is looking for a safe exit from politics by
remaining in power until death or handing over to a successor who will
guarantee that he will not be prosecuted for rights violations," said
Charles Mangongera, another independent analyst
He added "Mugabe realises that this is a do or die
situation" and "for him I think it is an issue of personal interest
rather than national interest".
Gruelling election campaign
But the longtime leader, who is blamed for having driven the
country to pariah status, is likely to have a tough time working through an
election campaign.
"Mugabe is an old man, he is not going to be moving
around [the country] like he used to," said Vava. Mangongera said Mugabe
faces an election hurdle in contesting with a much younger candidate,
arch-rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is nearly 30 years his junior
"I don't see Mugabe withstanding a gruelling election
campaign," Mangongera said.
"Look he is 89. I have seen ...television footage of
him struggling to scale steps. That is indication that he is frail. Age will
not allow Mugabe to mount a credible election campaign."
Mangongera said Mugabe's calls for peace ahead of the
referendum on the draft constitution next month and elections are signs that he
wants to redeem himself from past wrongs that have tainted his international
image.
"If you listen to his language in the past months, he
has been conciliatory, speaking like a statesman. It is an attempt to secure
his legacy," he said.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai were forced into a power-sharing
government to avoid a tip into full scale conflict in the aftermath of a bloody
presidential run-off election in 2008.
Mugabe is expected to offer his black empowerment drive to
take over majority stakes in foreign owned companies as the main campaign tool.
A victory for the 89-year-old Mugabe would extend his 32
years in power, a reign that in the last decade has been marked by economic
meltdown and serious rights violations.
- SAPA
