Election row jeopardises unity government as celebrations held for Mugabe's 87th birthday

Published on Saturday 26 February 2011 15:02

ZIMBABWEAN president Robert Mugabe, who recently turned 87, has shown he is as politically determined as ever by threatening to pull out of a process to draft a new constitution.

Yesterday he accused his coalition partners of delaying tactics designed to avoid holding elections this year.

Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party, forced into a unity government with prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after a disputed election in 2008, are pushing for early presidential and parliamentary elections.

The MDC has warned Mugabe to drop his plans, saying they could lead to a bloodbath. Tsvangirai has threatened to boycott any elections called this year.

"We would want to get to elections as soon as possible within the process, but if others are there to drag the process, we will get out of the process," Mugabe told Zanu-PF supporters at his official birthday party.

Many Zimbabweans hope the new constitution, replacing one drafted in 1979 before independence from Britain, will strengthen the role of parliament, curtail the president's powers and guarantee civil, political and media reform.

The process has been slowed by funding problems and squabbles over the composition of committees.

"We would have to have good reason to say those processes are not possible this year and the explanation should be given," Mugabe continued.

"We must never accept that money is the problem. Money is not the problem at all."

Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980 and, while his election plans have angered poor Zimbabweans, political analysts say he is unlikely to be forced out by the kind of popular uprising seen in other African countries such as Egypt and Tunisia.

"My body may get spent but I wish my mind will always remain with you, and think not of old ideas of an aged person but ideas of a young person," Mugabe said in an hour-long speech at the event.