“Do you want me to punch you to the floor to realise I am still there?” This is how Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe, who turned 92 on February 21, replied to a question from a journalist about his retirement plans and potential successor during a two-hour interview on State TV.
The country’s leader added: “Why ‘successor’ when I am still there?’ Why do you want a successor? I did not say I was a candidate to retire. Grooming a successor, is it an inheritance.
In a democratic party you don’t want leaders appointed that way. They have to be appointed properly by the people. Succession is not part of our culture.”
The world’s oldest head of state, who has led Zimbabwe since it was formed in 1980, denied he has any plans to hand over power or seek to influence his wife Grace’s political career.
“Others say the president wants to leave the throne for his wife. Where have you ever seen that, even in our own culture, where a wife inherits from her husband?” Mugabe said.
Speaking about his health the president described himself as fit, as he used to exercise daily. He said: “I am happy because I am about to reach the age I want. You know the age I want to reach – 100 years.
So only eight years remain. I still exercise to keep alive, to resurrect when people say I am dead. Every January I must prepare the necessary exercise to resurrect.”
Mugabe is expected to stand again for election in 2018, but there is increasing speculation over his health and advancing age.
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