Zimbabwe’s Mugabe Says He Will Not Vote For Successor Mnangagwa

Former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe has said he would not support his successor in the Zanu-PF party, Emmerson Mnangagwa, after being forced out of office by the “party I founded”.

Mugabe said this when he gave a surprise press conference on the eve of the nation’s elections.

“I cannot vote for those who tormented me,” he said. “I will make my choice among the other 22 [candidates].”

Zimbabweans go to the polls on Monday in the first vote since Mugabe was ousted in November.

Speaking from his home in the capital, Harare, on Sunday, the former president again said he had been “sacked” as part of a military coup and that he left office in order to “avoid conflict”.

He said that he now wished the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Nelson Chamisa, well in Monday’s vote.

“He seems to be doing well, and if he is elected I wish him well,” he said.

When asked if he would like to see Chamisa gain power in Zimbabwe, Mr Mugabe, 94, indicated that he was the only viable candidate.

Mugabe said: “I hope the choice of voting tomorrow will throw, thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality.

“Let tomorrow be the voice of the people to say never again shall we experience a period where the army is used to thrust one person into power.”

Mugabe also denied that, as president, he had planned to hand the leadership to his wife, Grace, saying it was “utter nonsense”, and suggested that ex-defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi should have taken over.

Mugabe added that, since he was forced from office last year, “the people of Zimbabwe have not been free”.




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