|
Harare - Zimbabwe's ruling party is considering amending the constitution to allow President Robert Mugabe another two years in power, reports said on Sunday.
Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe uninterrupted for the past 26 years, was expected to step down when his current term expires in 2008.
But now there are moves afoot within his ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) to change the constitution and postpone the 2008 presidential poll to coincide with a parliamentary vote in 2010.
The party will debate the issue and report back to parliament, Zanu-PF spokesperson Nathan Shamuyarira told the state-controlled Sunday News, which is published in Bulawayo.
He said the party was likely to push for a combined 2010 election.
"A bill should be passed in parliament, telling us how that should be done. We have been discussing that and we will be putting our ideas to parliament," Shamuyarira told the daily.
Presently, the ruling party has no clear successor to Mugabe. Choosing one appears problematic, with reports of vicious party in-fighting over the issue.
"It is saddening to note that some people within the party are already taking positions and rallying behind some individuals in the succession debate," Zanu-PF youth secretary Saviour Kasukuwere was quoted as saying by another newspaper.
"The presidium should remain as it is because it still has the mandate of the people," he said, according to the Sunday Mail. "Our leadership should ruthlessly deal with all those causing confusion in the party because of the succession issue."
In 2004, several high-ranking ruling party officials were suspended from the party for opposing Mugabe's choice of Joyce Mujuru as new vice president.
Shamuyarira told the Sunday News that the campaign within the party to succeed Mugabe was definitely on but added that no candidate has announced himself or herself yet. - Sapa-dpa
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
