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Mugabe anger at Zanu-PF fighting Mugabe anger at Zanu-PF fighting
(10 minutes later)
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has hit out at members of his own party for weakening their rule over the country.Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has hit out at members of his own party for weakening their rule over the country.
Zanu-PF has been forced to share power with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after disputed polls last year.Zanu-PF has been forced to share power with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after disputed polls last year.
"The party is eating itself up. The more intense the internal fighting is, the greater opportunity we give to the opposition to thrive," Mr Mugabe said."The party is eating itself up. The more intense the internal fighting is, the greater opportunity we give to the opposition to thrive," Mr Mugabe said.
Reporters say the party has been riven by squabbles over who should eventually succeed the 85-year-old leader.Reporters say the party has been riven by squabbles over who should eventually succeed the 85-year-old leader.
"The reason why we lost last year was because of factions in many provinces. This is how the party has suffered damage," Reuters news agency quoted him as telling thousands of delegates at a Zanu-PF congress. "The reason why we lost last year was because of factions in many provinces. This is how the party has suffered damage," Reuters news agency quoted him as telling thousands of delegates at the annual Zanu-PF congress in the capital, Harare.
It is the party's first gathering since the unity government was formed in February and members are to elect a new vice-president, following the death of Joseph Msika.It is the party's first gathering since the unity government was formed in February and members are to elect a new vice-president, following the death of Joseph Msika.
Mr Mugabe is expected to be re-elected as party leader.Mr Mugabe is expected to be re-elected as party leader.
But correspondents say party members are increasingly unhappy that the leadership has remained largely unchanged since independence in 1980, with delegates demanding reforms such as secret ballots and more transparency. The BBC's Karen Allen, who is at the congress, says the party faithful, many of them bussed in from the countryside to attend the event, still hailed the president as their liberation hero.
But she says it is clearly a party under fire, trying to whip its membership into shape as some contemplate what used to be the ultimate taboo - a party without Robert Mugabe at its helm.