Zanu-PF Politburo praises Mugabe for his 'alertness of mind'

The Zanu-PF Politburo has praised their 89-year-old Robert Mugabe for his "alertness of mind" as he steered the party through the constitutional process.

In a statement, the party's Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo said the Politburo expressed gratitude to the President for his "wisdom, dexterity and alertness of mind."

He said his party recognises the "dreadful and treacherous circumstances under which the constitution was made (where some had wanted to include and safeguard foreign interests)," and thanked the President for insisting on defending Zimbabwe's values, beliefs and national heritage.

"The Politburo was particularly grateful that President Mugabe had ensured the inclusion of such provisions as the irreversibility of the land reform programme, the recognition of the richness of our natural resources, the need to ensure communities benefit from the resources within their areas and the availability of empowerment opportunities to youths and veterans of the liberation struggle amongst others," Gumbo said.

Beleaguered Zimbabweans will on Saturday vote on a new constitution that would, for the first time, put a definite end date on Robert Mugabe's controversial rule.

Millions of voters are expected to back a new set of laws that would decentralise power and limit Mugabe - and any subsequent presidents -to two five-year terms in office.

Nearly 33 years after Mugabe led the country to independence, the 89-year-old has, with a prod from the international community, also backed the new constitution.

Mugabe would also be eligible to stay in office until 2023. By then he will be 99 years old.

The text, which took three years to draft, also has the support of Mugabe's rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, making a landslide victory almost certain.

Tsvangirai's supporters have tolerated concessions to Mugabe in the hope the referendum will pave the way for free elections, perhaps in July.

That, they say, provides a way out of decades of crisis marked by political terror and economic decay.

Few Zimbabweans say they have read the document, but regular radio and television spots have encouraged people to go and vote yes.

"I think it will bring about change," said Blessing Satumba, a 24-year-old civil engineering student. "These people have overstayed, and when people overstay, they tend to do what they want. Change will help."

Around 12 million ballot papers have been printed, although many fewer people are expected to file into the 9 456 polling centres across the country.