News / National
Elections will take place with or without a new constitution - Mugabe
21 Feb 2012 at 21:48hrs | Views
Harare - President Robert Mugabe declared himself as "fit as a fiddle" as he celebrated his 88th birthday on Tuesday.
Mugabe said he will stand again in new elections that he insisted should be held this year - with or without the new constitution.
"I came from the people and the people, in their wisdom, our members of the party, will certainly select someone once I say I am now retiring, but not yet. At this age I can still go some distance, can't I?"
Mugabe was chosen in December by his Zanu-PF party to stand again as its presidential candidate.
They are free not to participate
"There is no one who can stand and win at the moment," he said of the contenders in his party jostling to succeed him.
"We just must have elections. They just must take place with or without a new constitution. If others don't want to have an election then they are free not to participate," he told state television.
"Nobody is forced to go to an election but definitely I will exercise my presidential powers in accordance with the main principal law, the constitution of our country, and announce when the election will take place."
Mugabe said he will stand again in new elections that he insisted should be held this year - with or without the new constitution.
"I came from the people and the people, in their wisdom, our members of the party, will certainly select someone once I say I am now retiring, but not yet. At this age I can still go some distance, can't I?"
Mugabe was chosen in December by his Zanu-PF party to stand again as its presidential candidate.
They are free not to participate
"There is no one who can stand and win at the moment," he said of the contenders in his party jostling to succeed him.
"We just must have elections. They just must take place with or without a new constitution. If others don't want to have an election then they are free not to participate," he told state television.
"Nobody is forced to go to an election but definitely I will exercise my presidential powers in accordance with the main principal law, the constitution of our country, and announce when the election will take place."
Source - Byo24News
