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Mugabe given 2008 candidacy
31/03/2007 12:12 - (SA)
Angus Shaw
Harare - Zimbabwe's ruling party endorsed President Robert Mugabe as its candidate in presidential elections next year.
Friday's decision came hard on the heels of an emergency southern African summit on Thursday, which gave its public backing to Mugabe and appealed for the lifting of western sanctions against his government.
"It's a tragedy for democracy," said Tendai Biti of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
"It is a tragedy not only for the people of Zimbabwe but for his own party."
The central committee of the ruling Zanu-PF party backed the 83-year-old Mugabe as its candidate for the 2008 elections, said party spokesperson Nathan Shamuyarira.
He told state television that the 145-member committee had proposed advancing parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2010, by two years to coincide with the presidential poll.
This would necessitate Mugabe's government pushing through a constitutional amendment to shorten parliament's five year-term in office by two years.
"The date has been agreed," said Shamuyarira.
'The dark side of Mugabe'
Main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai earlier this week threatened to boycott next year's poll without fundamental change to the electoral system, declaring that his party would never "go into an election that is predetermined".
Biti said holding elections next year without constitutional reform would merely strengthen Mugabe's power base.
"It reflects the dark side of Mugabe," Biti, the secretary-general of the opposition movement, said of the president's bid to stay in power until the age of 90.
After the five-hour meeting, a jubilant Mugabe appeared on the steps of his party headquarters, surrounded by cheering, clenched fist supporters in traditional costumes emblazoned with the president's portrait.
Mbeki 'agrees' with Mugabe
To rapturous applause he accused western governments - especially Britain - of funding the MDC.
Mugabe said President Thabo Mbeki, named by southern African leaders to mediate in Zimbabwe, agreed with him that Britain was trying to spread neocolonialism in the region.
There was no immediate comment from South Africa.
A communique from the Southern African Development Community summit on Thursday voiced its full support for Mugabe. It appealed for "the lifting of all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe".
Britain and other Western nations have imposed targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and a travel ban on Mugabe and more than 100 of his top associates.
Zimbabwe state radio described the outcome of the summit as "a huge milestone for Zimbabwe".
- AP
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