Mugabe steers clear of Zanu-PF succession struggle

Mugabe steered clear of a succession struggle raging in his Zanu PF party following his wife's sensational attempt to force his deputy out of office.

As the 90-year-old addressed the new Parliament, dozens of Zanu PF members sang his praises outside the building, but also taunted each other over factional allegiances in the party that has run Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Mugabe, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, said he would invest in infrastructure, offer free fertilizer and seed to farmers and revise tax and labour laws to improve an investment climate clouded by his nationalist policies.

He made no direct reference to the succession battle in his party, which went into overdrive this month when his wife, Grace, attacked Vice-President Joice Mujuru and accused her of plotting to oust Mugabe at a party congress in December.

Throughout the ceremony, Grace exchanged no words with Mujuru, who sat next to Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, smiling and sharing jokes.

She has made no formal response to Grace's accusations.

In his 25-minute speech, the veteran leader threatened action against blacks who derailed the empowerment drive - known locally as indigenisation - by acting as fronts for foreigners.

"It is depressing that some of our people have turned themselves into mere fronts for foreign investors, thus defeating the fundamental objective," Mugabe said.

"Decisive action shall indeed be taken to address these negative developments."