Mugabe says 'raring to go' as poll nears

Mugabe says 'raring to go' as poll nears

RARING TO GO: Mugabe is seeking new five-year term

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• Makoni has expelled himself - Mnangagwa

• War veterans to 'deal harshly' with Makoni

• Zimbabwe's state media attacks Makoni

• Cometh the hour, cometh the Mak

• Major Mbudzi warns CIO against dirty tricks

• Makoni guns for Mugabe's job

• Makoni humiliated as Zanu PF rejects bid for MP

• Makoni's bid for MP riles ministers

• Makoni files papers to stand for MP

• Zanu PF politburo meets over looming split

• Mugabe's fury as Nkomo, Sibanda clash at congress

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has said he is "raring to go" in general elections next month despite the first challenge for 20 years from within his ruling party.

Mugabe - who turns 84 next week and has been the southern African nation's sole ruler since independence from Britain in 1980 - is seeking another five-year term in the March 29 presidential, parliamentary and council elections.

The veteran Zimbabwean leader, who analysts had predicted was assured of victory against a weak and divided opposition, now has to contend with one of his senior ruling Zanu PF officials, former finance minister Simba Makoni, in the presidential race.

"I am very raring to go and raring to fly," Mugabe said in remarks broadcast on state television on Tuesday, waving his trademark clenched fists in a sign of defiance.

Mugabe has said his party would secure a landslide election victory to silence the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and shame Western critics he accuses of funding his opponents to remove him from power.

But analysts say the entry of Makoni, a member of the ruling party's decision-making politburo, shows internal divisions in Zanu PF which could leave Mugabe weaker even if he wins.

Makoni says he is backed by senior party officials who are however yet to publicly show their support.

The Zanu PF politburo was expected to meet on Tuesday to finalise a list of candidates for the elections and take an official position on Makoni's move. The body also met on Monday but no decision was taken.

Some members of Mugabe's cabinet, including the agriculture, education and agriculture, engineering, mechanisation and irrigation ministers, have lost in the party primary elections.

Sabina Mugabe, the veteran Zimbabwe leader's younger sister who has been a legislator for more than two decades, said she would not stand for health reasons.

Analysts say shortages of food, foreign currency and fuel, and the world's highest inflation rate - officially pegged at 26 000 percent - are the biggest challenge to Mugabe's rule.

The MDC has failed to capitalise on Mugabe's failure to ease the crisis and it remains to be seen if daily hardships will push Zimbabweans to support Makoni. - Reuters
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