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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe 'confident' of sixth term | Mugabe 'confident' of sixth term |
| (2 days later) | |
| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he is confident his ruling Zanu-PF party will win next month's elections. | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he is confident his ruling Zanu-PF party will win next month's elections. |
| He was speaking at a rally to launch his campaign for a sixth term in power and celebrate his 84th birthday. | He was speaking at a rally to launch his campaign for a sixth term in power and celebrate his 84th birthday. |
| Thousands gathered at the rally in the town of Beitbridge on the border with South Africa. | Thousands gathered at the rally in the town of Beitbridge on the border with South Africa. |
| Launching his manifesto in the eastern town of Mutare, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said Zimbabwe was bleeding under "dictatorship". | Launching his manifesto in the eastern town of Mutare, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said Zimbabwe was bleeding under "dictatorship". |
| The presidential, legislative, senate and local council polls are scheduled for 29 March. | The presidential, legislative, senate and local council polls are scheduled for 29 March. |
| Economic crisis | Economic crisis |
| Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. | Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. |
| Zimbabwe is suffering an economic crisis, with annual inflation of 100,000%, and unemployment at 80%. There are also severe food and fuel shortages. | Zimbabwe is suffering an economic crisis, with annual inflation of 100,000%, and unemployment at 80%. There are also severe food and fuel shortages. |
| Many of Zimbabwe's problems have been blamed by the opposition and Western countries on the policies of President Mugabe. | Many of Zimbabwe's problems have been blamed by the opposition and Western countries on the policies of President Mugabe. |
| We're all bleeding, but we're marching on Morgan TsvangiraiOpposition leader Opposition fury | We're all bleeding, but we're marching on Morgan TsvangiraiOpposition leader Opposition fury |
| But he told his supporters that his party would win the elections "resoundingly" and he was ready for a fight with those who criticised his presidency, including President Bush and British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. | But he told his supporters that his party would win the elections "resoundingly" and he was ready for a fight with those who criticised his presidency, including President Bush and British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. |
| "It is the sanctions that they have imposed which have caused a great deal of harm on the economy," he said. | "It is the sanctions that they have imposed which have caused a great deal of harm on the economy," he said. |
| Challengers | Challengers |
| Mr Tsvangirai - who leads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - is one of three candidates challenging him in the presidential poll. | Mr Tsvangirai - who leads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - is one of three candidates challenging him in the presidential poll. |
| The opposition MDC wants Mugabe to go after 28 years in power | The opposition MDC wants Mugabe to go after 28 years in power |
| The others are independent candidates - former Finance Minister Simba Makoni and Langton Towungana. | The others are independent candidates - former Finance Minister Simba Makoni and Langton Towungana. |
| Mr Makoni, 58, has pledged to turn round the country's economic fortunes if elected. | Mr Makoni, 58, has pledged to turn round the country's economic fortunes if elected. |
| He has been expelled from Zanu-PF, and Mr Mugabe has compared him to a prostitute. | He has been expelled from Zanu-PF, and Mr Mugabe has compared him to a prostitute. |
| Launching his campaign before thousands of supporters in Mutare, Mr Tsvangirai said: | Launching his campaign before thousands of supporters in Mutare, Mr Tsvangirai said: |
| "All of Zimbabwe is in the custody of a dictatorship. We're all bleeding, but we're marching on. We're weak and with hunger, but we're stronger with anger." | "All of Zimbabwe is in the custody of a dictatorship. We're all bleeding, but we're marching on. We're weak and with hunger, but we're stronger with anger." |
| He said the Zimbabwean economy was "an enclave economy that is uneven, unequal and virtually dead". | He said the Zimbabwean economy was "an enclave economy that is uneven, unequal and virtually dead". |
| "Zimbabwe is one of the world's great humanitarian crises," he said. | "Zimbabwe is one of the world's great humanitarian crises," he said. |
| BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe's annual birthday celebration is always a lavish occasion, and the state media have poured adulation on the Zimbabwean president this week. | BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe's annual birthday celebration is always a lavish occasion, and the state media have poured adulation on the Zimbabwean president this week. |
| Across the border in South Africa, Zimbabwean exiles have been staging an anti-Mugabe demonstration. | Across the border in South Africa, Zimbabwean exiles have been staging an anti-Mugabe demonstration. |
| Roy Bennett of the MDC addressed the crowd of about 200 exiled Zimbabwean activists. | Roy Bennett of the MDC addressed the crowd of about 200 exiled Zimbabwean activists. |
| "After 28 years, a man who is now 84 years old is having a birthday party. A birthday party while everybody around him is starving and dying." | "After 28 years, a man who is now 84 years old is having a birthday party. A birthday party while everybody around him is starving and dying." |