MASVINGO, ZIMBABWE —
Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, Saturday was declared the ruling party’s candidate for the 2018 elections.
President Robert Mugabe officially closed Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF annual conference in Masvingo, about 300 kilometers south of Harare, after the party had unanimously endorsed him as its candidate for the 2018 elections.
Some members of Zimbabwe’s ruling party have been calling on the 92-year-old leader to step down. That probably explains his plea to party members on Saturday for tolerance.
Members of ruling Zanu PF party enjoying their leader President Robert Mugabe attacking factions angling to succeed him as Zimbabwe’s leader, Masvingo, Zimbabwe, Dec. 16, 2016. (S.Mhofu/VOA)
“We have agreed that there must be no conflicts and fighting. Discipline, discipline, discipline. Those in leadership must be respected,” he said.
Now it remains to be seen how a 94-year-old will fare in Zimbabwe in 2018 elections. He is already struggling to walk and makes frequent trips to Malaysia for medical attention. Unconfirmed reports say the Zimbabwean leader – who has been in power since it won independence from Great Britain in 1980 – has prostate cancer.
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