- Title: Mugabe's wife urges him to name successor for Zimbabwe
- Date: 28th July 2017
- Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (JULY 28, 2017) (REUTERS) MORE OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARARE RESIDENT, JORDAN NDORI, SAYING: "I believe for Robert Mugabe to step down is not enough we need the whole Zanu PF system to go because we believe they are the same. Even if they take Sekeramayi to be the president, or Mnangagwa to be president, that's the same system, the whole Zanu PF system is corrupt so as a young person I believe that the first lady was very clear, it's good she has joined the opposition in calling for Robert Mugabe to step down." MORE OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARARE RESIDENT, ELLEN MARIMO, SAYING: "It's not enough for the citizens of Zimbabwe to have Robert Mugabe appointing a successor but actually the best thing for him to do is just to step down and pave way for a new dispensation." PEOPLE WALKING ALONG HARARE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARARE RESIDENT, EDDIAS MUTANGA, SAYING: "What the first lady has mentioned about succession gives us hope for the future, it gives us continuity and I believe it also gives confidence to investors, there is hope and security for investments, it brings a breath of fresh air into the future." MORE OF PEOPLE WALKING ALONG ANOTHER HARARE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARARE RESIDENT, SIMBA DZAPASI, SAYING: "Zanu PF is now under panic mode and under pressure to name someone whom they feel can compete against Morgan Tsvangirai." MORE OF PEOPLE IN HARARE STREETS
- Embargoed: 11th August 2017 14:11
- Keywords: Robert Mugabe Grace Mugabe Zimbabwe elections Mugabe Zimbabwe successor ZANU-PF Zimbabwe leader
- Location: HARARE, ZIMBABWE
- City: HARARE, ZIMBABWE
- Country: Zimbabwe
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0036RMUERR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe challenged her president husband Robert on Thursday (July 27) to name his preferred successor over the future leadership of the ruling ZANU-PF party.
Africa's oldest leader at 93 years old, Mugabe has ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980 but has insisted that ZANU-PF, and not him, will choose his eventual successor when the time comes.
But at a meeting of ZANU-PF's women's wing in the capital Harare, Grace Mugabe contradicted the veteran leader, who also attended the meeting, saying he should name a successor.
The battle over leadership has intensified in the last three years, with two distinct camps emerging, one supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the other rooting for Grace Mugabe. Mugabe is ZANU-PF's presidential candidate for the 2018 election, his last under the constitution. He will be 99 if he wins and completes the five-year term. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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