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Zanu-PF endorses Mugabe for 2008 poll
Mail & Guardian (SA)
March 31, 2007

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=303484&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/

Zimbabwe's ruling party endorsed President Robert Mugabe as its candidate in presidential elections next year, papering over internal divisions about the country's economic meltdown and shrugging off international criticism of the clampdown on opposition activists.

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. "It is a tragedy not only for the people of Zimbabwe but for his own party," he told the Associated Press.

The central committee of the ruling Zanu-PF party backed the 83-year-old Mugabe -- the only leader since independence from Britain in 1980 -- 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 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 that 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 party headquarters, surrounded by cheering, clenched fist supporters in traditional costumes emblazoned with the president's portrait, according to footage screened by television.

To rapturous applause he accused Western governments -- especially Britain -- of funding the Movement for Democratic Change.

Mugabe said that South African President Thabo Mbeki, who was named on Thursday by the Southern African leaders as mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis, agreed with him that Britain was trying to spread neocolonialism in the region.

There was no immediate comment from South Africa. But Mbeki has stayed true to his policy of quiet diplomacy on Zimbabwe, even though this has failed to rein in Mugabe's worst excesses, including the 2005 demolition of shacks and eviction of informal traders and the recent arrest and police brutality against Tsvangirai and other opposition leaders.

A communiqué 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", and rebuked Britain for not living up to its promises of paying compensation to support land reform in its former colony.

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. They argue targeted sanctions don't hurt most Zimbabweans.

'Huge milestone for Zimbabwe'
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, chairperson of the regional bloc, said the summit decided "to promote dialogue of the parties in Zimbabwe. There is no replacement to that".

Zimbabwe state radio, the official voice of Mugabe's government, described the outcome of the summit as "a huge milestone for Zimbabwe".

The radio said Mugabe's detractors at home and abroad -- who had called for Mugabe to be censured and given a deadline to stand down -- were left with "their tails between their legs".

"The African leaders failed to be manipulated," it said.

United States State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said the Southern African summit "fell short" of US hopes of a tougher stance against Mugabe.

"The situation obviously in Zimbabwe cannot continue as it is," he said. "This is an economy that is in complete ruin and there's real suffering going on as a result of the decrease in the level of human rights as well as democratic rights in that state."

Zimbabwe's official inflation, fuelled by high level corruption and black market dealing, is 1 700%, the highest in the world. The life expectancy rate is one of the lowest in the world, fueled by HIV/Aids and poverty. There is mass unemployment, shortages of most basic products and an increasing reliance on food aid in what used to be the region's breadbasket.

Clearly boosted by the support from his neighbours, the Zimbabwe president was in a defiant mood as he addressed supporters and reiterated warnings that Western ambassadors -- like US ambassador Christopher Dell -- who have criticised the government risked expulsion if they interfered in Zimbabwe's internal affairs.

Mugabe acknowledged that police used violent methods against Tsvangirai and other opposition supporters earlier this month in crushing a planned demonstration and killing at least one activist.

Speaking in the local Shona language, Mugabe said that Tsvangirai "asked for it".

"Tsvangirai stop it now," he said, in reference to government accusations that the opposition is to blame for a wave of unrest and petrol bomb attacks against targets like police stations and trains.

The Movement for Democratic Change party accused Mugabe's government of trying to demonise its critics by fabricating allegations of an armed terror campaign. Nine of its activists were charged on Thursday with attempted murder in connection with a string of fire bombings, illegal possession of a firearm and of explosives, according to their lawyer.

But in his opening address to the central committee, Mugabe hinted at the divisions in his party by urging the leadership to resolve its differences amicably and without resorting to the courts or the media, state radio reported.

Tensions in the ruling Zanu-PF party have reportedly risen because of rival factions competing over succession issue the disastrous state of the Zimbabwean economy.

The trade union movement has called for a mass boycott from work next Tuesday and Wednesday. - Sapa-AP

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