President Mugabe yesterday expressed his desire to lead Zimbabwe till death saying health permitting, he would stand as the Zanu-PF presidential candidate in 2018 .
Addressing journalists in Tokyo yesterday President Mugabe, who turned 92,in February said people of Zimbabwe gave him the mandate to govern since 1980 so he would stand as the Zanu PF presidential candidate in 2018.
According to state media , the nonagenarian leader said he is fit for the Zimbabwean golden throne.
“At the moment I am the President that’s why (I am here). Do you see me as not fit? Why not contest two years later?
“Two years later is no time but only God knows what will happen in two years’ time, 2018, I don’t know, it will depend. If I am fit enough, yes, but If I am not fit enough I will not. My people will want me to be a candidate and they have already nominated me as a candidate for 2018,”said President Mugabe.
First lady, Grace Mugabe once declared there was no one good enough to succeed her husband.
“It should not come as a surprise that Mugabe, at 91, continues to lead us. Some of your actions lead Mugabe to continue ruling. He is an open and accessible leader who accommodates anyone and we do not fear him, but we respect him,” she said.
The First Lady said even if Mugabe were to be incapacitated by age, such that a wheelchair would not suffice, she would push him in a wheelbarrow.
However, oppostion parties have scoffed at Mugabe’s desire to lead the nation at his age.
People’s Democratic Party spokesperson, Jacob Mafume said Mugabe has become a national threat. He vowed that Mugabe will never win 2018 elections as everyone including her wife is against his autocratic rule.
“Mugabe has become a national threat, this is clear even to blind man. Even his wife wants to remove him from the office,” said Mafume.
Grace is said to be the G40 kingpin, a group which has been fighting for control of the party with a faction led by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the bitter wrangle to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe People First spokesperson. Rugare Gumbo said Mugabe will not be in office in 2018. He said his (Mugabe) being in office will be a joke of the century.
He urged Mugabe to retire as he is too old to hold the position.
“Mugabe saying that he will contest in 2018 elections is a joke, the man should retire for he is too old now, he can no longer hold the position,” Gumbo said
He also added that come 2018, his party will thrash Zanu PF.
