Mugabe endorsed as Zanu-PF leader

Ninety-year-old Robert Mugabe Saturday was endorsed as president of his ruling Zanu-PF party by a party congress in the Zimbabwean capital Harare.

Thousands of supporters chanted "Gushungo", the president's clan name, a Sapa correspondent reported. Others sang "VaMugabe".

Mugabe, who looked grim-faced earlier in the proceedings, responded by rising to his feet inside a massive tent in central Harare and waving his black cap. There were no challenges to the president's position.

"Thank you so much for showing that massive..." shouted Zanu-PF national chair Simon Khaya Moyo before the shouting crowds drowned him out.

There has been widespread speculation that vice president Joice Mujuru will be pushed out of her post at this congress. Analysts said that Mugabe feared she had become so popular that she could replace him at the congress.