This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7142758.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Mugabe to run again for Zanu-PF | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Zimbabwe's governing party has endorsed Robert Mugabe as its candidate for next year's presidential elections. | Zimbabwe's governing party has endorsed Robert Mugabe as its candidate for next year's presidential elections. |
The vote by delegates at the Zanu-PF conference in the capital, Harare, allows the 83-year-old president to seek a sixth term in office in March. | The vote by delegates at the Zanu-PF conference in the capital, Harare, allows the 83-year-old president to seek a sixth term in office in March. |
Critics say Mr Mugabe's continued grip on power will prolong the country's deepening economic crisis. | Critics say Mr Mugabe's continued grip on power will prolong the country's deepening economic crisis. |
But the veteran leader told his party conference he could not and would not "abandon" his people in hard times. | |
Zimbabwe's official inflation is given at around 8,000% - the highest in the world. | Zimbabwe's official inflation is given at around 8,000% - the highest in the world. |
Last month, the country's chief statistician said there were no longer enough goods in the shops for him to work out the inflation rate. | Last month, the country's chief statistician said there were no longer enough goods in the shops for him to work out the inflation rate. |
Mr Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980 and has resisted pressure to step down. | Mr Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980 and has resisted pressure to step down. |
Acclamation | |
Mr Mugabe's selection was by open acclamation and all 10 of Zanu-PF's provincial bodies backed him. | |
Their welfare is my welfare. Their suffering is my suffering. I dare not abandon them President Robert Mugabe | |
"I did not hear any dissenting voices," John Nkomo, the Zanu-PF chairman said, according to the French news agency. | |
"It means this congress has fully and unreservedly declared Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe as the presidential candidate for next year's presidential elections." | "It means this congress has fully and unreservedly declared Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe as the presidential candidate for next year's presidential elections." |
Reuters news agency reported that the announcement was greeted with cheers. | |
"Every one of them matters to me. Can I let them down?" AP news agency quotes Mr Mugabe as saying during his keynote address to delegates before his endorsement. | |
"No. Their welfare is my welfare. Their suffering is my suffering. I dare not abandon them," he said. | |
In a new report human rights organisation Amnesty International says the opposition continue to suffer beatings, torture and harassment. | In a new report human rights organisation Amnesty International says the opposition continue to suffer beatings, torture and harassment. |
South Africa has been mediating talks between Mr Mugabe's government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. | South Africa has been mediating talks between Mr Mugabe's government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. |
Both sides say they have made good progress. | Both sides say they have made good progress. |