Mugabe says succession debate 'nonsensical'

Mugabe says succession debate 'nonsensical'

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE President Robert Mugabe has poured cold water over a debate regarding his succession, calling the issue a "nonsensical thing".

"The things we hear about succession, succession, succession... if I were to write books, I would write volumes and volumes of (this) nonsensical thing," the state-owned Sunday Mail quoted Mugabe as saying.

Zimbabwe's longtime leader made the comments at a national consultative meeting of his ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu PF), which has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

The 82-year-old strongman, who in the past indicated a desire to step down before his current term expires in 2008, also warned that "the people of Zimbabwe, not witchdoctors" would decide the issue of succession.

"We hear lots of unbelievable stories about succession, we hear some people are consulting witchdoctors ... but the biggest witchdoctor is the people of Zimbabwe and there is no need to consult witchdoctors," Mugabe said.

Some politicians in Zimbabwe were known for consulting witchdoctors which they believed could help predict the future or help them be successful.

"If you do your job well, the people will recognise you. If you do your work and work with the people well, the people will recognise you," Mugabe said.

Zimbabwe is in the iron grip of a spiralling economic crisis, characterised by an inflation rate hovering just below 1 200 percent, compounded by a fuel and foreign currency crunch and a high unemployment rate.

Mugabe and his ruling party have blamed the current situation on selective sanctions imposed by the West, but critics point to the country's controversial land redistribution programme, which saw white-owned commercial farms taken and given to landless blacks.

Around 4 000 white farmers have lost their land since Mugabe launched his fast-track land reform program in 2000 to redress the imbalances in land ownership from the colonial era.

Fewer than 600 commercial farmers remain on their properties in Zimbabwe, once called the breadbasket of southern Africa. - Sapa-AFP
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