{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Mugabe succession debate rages ahead of independence fete - World
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Mugabe succession debate rages ahead of independence fete
A photo of Zimbabawean president Robert Mugabe sleeping during the inauguration ceremony of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Mugabe has vowed to stay in power, saying his countrymen have no problem with his long rule.
Harare. As Zimbabwe prepares to celebrate its 36th independence anniversary on April 18, there is growing discontent among the country's liberators who feel President Robert Mugabe has overstayed in power.
President Mugabe (92) has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence from Britain in 1980 following a protracted bush war.
The 92-year-old leader's popularity started to wane at the turn of the millennium as Zimbabwe's economic fortunes started to dwindle, but he has managed to hang on to power because of strong support from veterans of the liberation war.
The former fighters have since 2000 led violent campaigns to keep President Mugabe in power in the face of mounting opposition from a population feeling the pinch of a rapid economic decline.
The war veterans became vital cog in the veteran ruler's Zanu PF party's mobilisation strategy and the biggest poll victory they delivered was 2013 where President Mugabe was given a mandate to rule until 2018.
In return for their support, the war veterans numbering about 30 000 would get monthly pensions, prime land and other favours from the State.
However, due to a haemorrhaging economy, President Mugabe's government has not been able to keep its promises and the former fighters are losing their patience.
The war veterans now ant their war time lead to step down for failing to halt the economic collapse and his divisive succession plan.
President Mugabe's proffered successor seem to be his 50 year-old wife but former fighters want Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed Zimbabwe's only leader since independence.
On the eve of the Independence Day celebrations, a group of war veterans said they were revoking a mandate given to President Mugabe to lead Zanu PF at the height of the liberation war.
The former fighters referred to the so-called Mgagao Declaration signed in Tanzania in 1977 where President Mugabe took over the leadership of Zanu PF.
He led the party to a landslide poll victory at independence in 1980 but the former fighters say he now has to give way for fresh blood. "We the war veterans who agreed to the authorship of the Mgagao document and appended our signatures to it now withdraw the mandate we gave to Robert Mugabe to be the leader," Mr Chipoyera told journalists in Harare. The war veterans accused President Mugabe of betraying the ideals of the liberation struggle by failing to promote democracy.
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