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| Zimbabwe's Mugabe wants two-year rule extension |
| Harare, 18.12.2006 |
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| by Fanuel Jongwe
Thu Dec 14, 9:48 AM ET
HARARE (AFP) - Veteran Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, due to step down in 2008, has endorsed the idea of his presidency being extended by a further two years on the eve of his ruling party's annual conference.
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In comments published by Thursday's state-run Herald newspaper, 82-year-old Mugabe said it would make sense for presidential and parliamentary elections -- scheduled for 2008 and 2010 respectively -- to be held simultaneously.
"I think it is better to have the two together ... and we synchronise the system of elections. Then there is harmony and that's what we want," said Mugabe, in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980.
The comments, which come ahead of a keynote speech Mugabe is scheduled to deliver Friday on the first day of his ZANU PF party's conference, have reinforced the belief that Mugabe will get formal backing for an extension of his sixth term as president of the southern African country.
Analysts and the opposition say Mugabe is buying time while his party decides on a candidate for the next presidential elections and warned an extension of his presidency would exacerbate the economic woes of a country where unemployment is above 80 percent and inflation has run into four figures.
"ZANU PF has no candidate to succeed Mugabe and the party is unelectable, that is why they want to delay the presidential elections," Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change told AFP.
"We are a pariah state and having Mugabe's tenure extended will only worsen our pariah status."
Political analyst Reginald Matshaba-Hove, who heads the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network said synchronising elections was a noble idea but said such a move should be carried out with the support of the public, preferably via a referundum.
"There is suspicion that ZANU PF is failing to resolve its succession issue," Matshaba-Hove said.
If Mugabe were to extend his presidency, he would need parliament to approve an amendment to the constitution. Such a vote should be a mere formality given the party's majority in parliament.
Veteran political analyst Bill Saidi warned extending Mugabe's term would further strain Zimbabwe's relations with the West.
"It will make countries that were willing to change their stance on Zimbabwe hold back."
Although Mugabe appeared to endorse Vice-President Joyce Mujuru as his successor when ZANU PF elected her as the party's deputy leader two years ago, he has since criticised infighting among ambitious senior party members.
Parliament speaker John Nkomo indicated last month that he would throw his hat into the ring for the contest to succeed Mugabe, telling journalists: "Why would I vie for the vice-president's position when there is the presidency?"
Mugabe, who has previously said he would stand down after his current term, said he did not want to leave his party in a mess.
"I will retire, of course, some day, but it all depends on the circumstances," he said.
"I can't retire if my party is going to be in a shambles. But any day we feel we are ready for that retirement, that is we as a party feel we are ready for it, sure."
While the subject of deferring the presidential elections until 2010 is not on the conference agenda, officials have said that the issue could be raised by delegates from the floor.
"There is a feeling in the party that it would be a good thing to merge the parliamentary and presidential elections in order to save money," said party spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira.
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