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| Robert Mugabe: I won't vote for Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe election | Robert Mugabe: I won't vote for Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe election |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Robert Mugabe has said he will not vote for his former party, Zanu-PF, or the current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in the country’s historic election on Monday. | |
| In his first major intervention since being ousted by the military last November, the 94-year-old former dictator said he would be voting for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the country’s biggest opposition party and its candidate, 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa. | In his first major intervention since being ousted by the military last November, the 94-year-old former dictator said he would be voting for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the country’s biggest opposition party and its candidate, 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa. |
| “I cannot vote for those who have reduced me to this condition,” Mugabe said from his home in Harare. “He [Chamisa] seems to be doing well at his rallies … I wish to meet him if he wins. | “I cannot vote for those who have reduced me to this condition,” Mugabe said from his home in Harare. “He [Chamisa] seems to be doing well at his rallies … I wish to meet him if he wins. |
| “Whoever wins, we wish him well … And let us accept the verdict.” | “Whoever wins, we wish him well … And let us accept the verdict.” |
| The former autocrat’s decision not to back the party he led to victory in Zimbabwe’s independence war and for 37 years as president is the latest twist in an extraordinary election that will determine the former British colony’s future for decades. | The former autocrat’s decision not to back the party he led to victory in Zimbabwe’s independence war and for 37 years as president is the latest twist in an extraordinary election that will determine the former British colony’s future for decades. |
| It is unclear how the intervention will influence a close contest. Mugabe’s call to vote out what he described as an “unconstitutional and illegal” government may win over some voters, but put off others. | It is unclear how the intervention will influence a close contest. Mugabe’s call to vote out what he described as an “unconstitutional and illegal” government may win over some voters, but put off others. |
| Mugabe described his November ousting as a coup, arguing that his rule was legitimate because he held elections every five years. He denied accusations he had used the army to suppress dissent. | Mugabe described his November ousting as a coup, arguing that his rule was legitimate because he held elections every five years. He denied accusations he had used the army to suppress dissent. |
| Successive polls in Zimbabwe were marked by violence and intimidation of opposition activists and supporters. Experts say the current election campaign has been the most peaceful for many decades. | Successive polls in Zimbabwe were marked by violence and intimidation of opposition activists and supporters. Experts say the current election campaign has been the most peaceful for many decades. |
| Mugabe denied reports that he had assisted the MDC’s campaign, saying he had never met Chamisa. | Mugabe denied reports that he had assisted the MDC’s campaign, saying he had never met Chamisa. |
| His controversial second wife Grace sat a few yards away throughout the sometimes rambling though often lucid two-hour press conference. | His controversial second wife Grace sat a few yards away throughout the sometimes rambling though often lucid two-hour press conference. |
| The former first lady’s political ambitions were believed by many to be the catalyst for the army’s decision to intervene in November. | The former first lady’s political ambitions were believed by many to be the catalyst for the army’s decision to intervene in November. |
| “There should be a big no to guns directing politics,” Mugabe said. “Let tomorrow be the voice of the people saying never again, never again will we experience … the army being used to thrust one person into power.” | “There should be a big no to guns directing politics,” Mugabe said. “Let tomorrow be the voice of the people saying never again, never again will we experience … the army being used to thrust one person into power.” |
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