By John Stephen Katende

27^th Feb 2012:

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who celebrated his 88^th birthday on Saturday 25, February has said he still “fit as a fiddle”, effectively dismissing any demands for him to retire from the presidency that he has held since 1980 when Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain.

“The day will come when I will become sick,” Mugabe said in an interview on state-owned Radio Zimbabwe, dismissing fears about his health.  Making light of numerous media reports of his sickness, Mugabe, a Roman Catholic, added:  “…I have died many times – that’s where I have beaten Christ. Christ died once and resurrected once.”

Mugabe, who has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980, also declared that he will stand again in new elections that he insisted will be held this year – with or without the new constitution required under Zimbabwe’s power-sharing deal with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

“…I came from the people and the people, in their wisdom, our members of the party, will certainly select someone once I say I am now retiring, but not yet,” Mugabe bullishly declared.  Mugabe was chosen in December by his ZANU-PF party to stand again as its presidential candidate.

“…There is no one who can stand and win at the moment,” Mugabe said of the contenders in his party jostling to succeed him.  “…We just must have elections. They just must take place with or without a new constitution. If others don’t want to have an election, then they are free not to participate.” the ailing president declared.

Cancer claims

Mugabe’s health has been the subject of much speculation, especially since WikiLeaks, the whistleblower website suggested in 2008 that Zimbabwe’s central bank chief Gideon Gono had told the then-US Ambassador James McGee that Mugabe had prostate cancer and had been advised by doctors that he had less than five years to live.

Mugabe’s health has been cited as one reason that a faction of his ZANU-PF party has pushed to rush new elections.  Mugabe formed a power-sharing government with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2009 to repair an inflation-ravaged economy and avoid a political meltdown after a bloody presidential runoff election.

The two rivals agreed to a number of reforms including amending electoral and media laws and drafting a new constitution to pave the way to fresh polls.  But work on the new charter has progressed in fits and starts, hindered by attacks on public outreach meetings by supporters of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party.

While Mugabe has repeatedly pressed for elections this year, Tsvangirai has insisted on a new constitution before any election.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.