MDCs trying to delay elections to avoid defeat, says Mugabe

Mugabe claimed his rivals were trying to delay the elections to avoid what he described as certain defeat.

Speaking in a ZTV interview marking his 89th birthday Friday Mugabe, who has led the country since Independence in 1980, said the the inclusive Government was not meant to last for as long as five years, but the others regard it as a free-ride which they don't qualify for and did not qualify and they now want want to enjoy the ride to the maximum.

"This creature called the inclusive Government was not meant to last for as long as five years, but the others regard it as a free-ride which they don't qualify for and did not qualify but which we thrust them upon," he said.

"They want to enjoy the ride to the maximum, they never had it before and they know will never have it again so they want to enjoy it maximally."

"(But) constitutionally, we must go for an election mustn't we? We are bound by our Constitution to have an election every five years. It is the Constitution that is pushing us, everyone in the Government must always be cognisant of the bidding that comes from our Constitution."