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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe to run again for Zanu-PF | Mugabe to run again for Zanu-PF |
| (31 minutes 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. | 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. |
| Cheers | |
| Mr Mugabe's selection was by open acclamation and all 10 of Zanu-PF's provincial bodies backed him. | 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 In pictures: Daily struggle | Their welfare is my welfare. Their suffering is my suffering. I dare not abandon them President Robert Mugabe In pictures: Daily struggle |
| "I did not hear any dissenting voices," John Nkomo, the Zanu-PF chairman said, according to the French news agency. | "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. | 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. | "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. | "No. Their welfare is my welfare. Their suffering is my suffering. I dare not abandon them," he said. |
| South Africa has been mediating talks between Mr Mugabe's government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to prepare for free and fair elections next year. | South Africa has been mediating talks between Mr Mugabe's government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to prepare for free and fair elections next year. |
| But last week a faction of the divided MDC said Zanu-PF was not sincere or committed to dialogue. | But last week a faction of the divided MDC said Zanu-PF was not sincere or committed to dialogue. |
| And in a new report human rights organisation Amnesty International says the opposition continue to suffer beatings, torture and harassment. | And in a new report human rights organisation Amnesty International says the opposition continue to suffer beatings, torture and harassment. |