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| Mugabe's party to extend his rule | |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwe's ruling party are expected to endorse a plan to extend Robert Mugabe's presidency until 2010 as they meet at their annual conference. | |
| A Zanu-PF spokesman said postponing presidential elections until they could be held at the same time as parliamentary polls would save money. | A Zanu-PF spokesman said postponing presidential elections until they could be held at the same time as parliamentary polls would save money. |
| The president had said he would retire in 2008 after 28 years in office. | The president had said he would retire in 2008 after 28 years in office. |
| Zimbabwe has the world's lowest life expectancy, highest inflation rate and chronic unemployment. | |
| Mugabe himself has decided to come clean about his succession. He basically has decided to succeed himself Jonathan MoyoIndependent MP Zimbabwe police brutality 'rises' | Mugabe himself has decided to come clean about his succession. He basically has decided to succeed himself Jonathan MoyoIndependent MP Zimbabwe police brutality 'rises' |
| Mr Mugabe's critics say he has ruined what was one of Africa's most developed economies. | Mr Mugabe's critics say he has ruined what was one of Africa's most developed economies. |
| Opposition figures in Zimbabwe say the 82-year-old leader is fearful of leaving office because he could face possible prosecution for human rights abuses. | |
| He says he is the victim of a western plot to bring him down because of opposition to his seizure of white-owned land. | He says he is the victim of a western plot to bring him down because of opposition to his seizure of white-owned land. |
| 'Too long' | 'Too long' |
| Following last year's parliamentary elections, Zanu-PF has a two-thirds majority, enabling it to change the constitution. | Following last year's parliamentary elections, Zanu-PF has a two-thirds majority, enabling it to change the constitution. |
| AFRICA HAVE YOUR SAY The biggest problem with Zimbabwe is that a lot of people the world over, think they know what's best for Zimbabwe Vincent, Harare Send us your comments | AFRICA HAVE YOUR SAY The biggest problem with Zimbabwe is that a lot of people the world over, think they know what's best for Zimbabwe Vincent, Harare Send us your comments |
| Synchronising presidential and parliamentary elections would also mean reducing the length of the presidential term from six years to five - the length of a Zimbabwean parliament. | Synchronising presidential and parliamentary elections would also mean reducing the length of the presidential term from six years to five - the length of a Zimbabwean parliament. |
| The Herald newspaper quotes President Mugabe as saying that shortening the length of the presidency was his idea: | |
| "I said the six-year term for the president was far too long, and then, of course, it produced the disparity and imbalance, and the discord between the parliamentary and presidential elections." | "I said the six-year term for the president was far too long, and then, of course, it produced the disparity and imbalance, and the discord between the parliamentary and presidential elections." |
| Eight out of Zanu-PF's 10 provincial branches have already reportedly backed the planned changes, meaning they are likely to be passed at the conference. | Eight out of Zanu-PF's 10 provincial branches have already reportedly backed the planned changes, meaning they are likely to be passed at the conference. |
| The party is riven by in-fighting and no obvious successor has emerged. | |
| 'Democrat' | 'Democrat' |
| Although Zanu-PF describes the constitutional changes as cost-cutting measures and a bid to achieve "harmony" in the election process, critics say the move is really about holding on to power. | Although Zanu-PF describes the constitutional changes as cost-cutting measures and a bid to achieve "harmony" in the election process, critics say the move is really about holding on to power. |
| "Mugabe himself has decided to come clean about his succession. He basically has decided to succeed himself," former Minister of Information and now independent MP Jonathan Moyo told the BBC's World Today programme. | "Mugabe himself has decided to come clean about his succession. He basically has decided to succeed himself," former Minister of Information and now independent MP Jonathan Moyo told the BBC's World Today programme. |
| But Information Minister Paul Mangwana said Mr Mugabe was a "democrat". | But Information Minister Paul Mangwana said Mr Mugabe was a "democrat". |
| "If the people want him, let him remain in power," he said. | "If the people want him, let him remain in power," he said. |
| Mr Mangwana also denied that Mr Mugabe was too old to continue to run Zimbabwe. | Mr Mangwana also denied that Mr Mugabe was too old to continue to run Zimbabwe. |
| "He's agile, he's lucid, he has a clean bill of health." | "He's agile, he's lucid, he has a clean bill of health." |
| But the Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, is one of President Mugabe's strongest critics and says he is obsessed with clinging on to power. | |
| "On the one side, you remember he was saying he would retire at 78. Now he's approaching 83. He keeps changing his goalposts. 'this is my last time, this is my last time'. | |
| "It's typical of him, and since he's so untruthful, it's very likely that he's going to extend his term of office. |