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| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe sings the national anthem before addressing the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, at the party headquarters, in Harare, Wednesday, July, 27, 2016. Zimbabwe's 92-year-old president on Wednesday said the longtime loyalists who turned against him last week should face "severe" punishment, and he vowed to stay in power for "a long time." (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) The Associated Press |
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe's 92-year-old president
on Wednesday said the longtime loyalists who turned against him last
week should face "severe" punishment, and he vowed to stay in power for
"a long time."
President Robert Mugabe made his first public response to
a scathing statement by veterans of the country's 1970's liberation
war. They called him dictatorial, manipulative and egocentric.
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association long had been quick to defend Mugabe, even with violence.
Mugabe demanded new leadership for the association, claiming Western countries have infiltrated it.
"We have ordered an investigation to identify authors of
the statement. ... The punishment will be severe," he said to thousands
of supporters at the ruling ZANU-PF party's headquarters in the capital,
Harare.
Mugabe insisted he will not step down.
"As long as the party still wants me to serve, if I still have the energy and still have the life, I will continue," he said.
The surprise revolt by Mugabe's aging corps of loyalists
comes after nationwide anti-government protests organized through social
media. Many in Zimbabwe are frustrated by a rapidly deteriorating
economy, a currency crisis and corruption.
One protest organizer, pastor Evan Mawarire, is now
staying in neighboring South Africa after Mugabe accused him of being
sponsored by the West.
The veterans' criticism has unsettled Mugabe, said Eldred
Masunungure of the University of Zimbabwe's political science
department.
"This is a result of his failure to hand over power. The succession war is driving towards a tipping point," Masunungure said.
The veterans accuse Mugabe of dumping them for a more
youthful group associated with his wife, Grace, whose political power
has dramatically increased in the past two years.
