Mugabe worried at divisions threatening his ruling party

Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Thursday complained that factionalism that forced him into a compromise government with his rivals five years ago was now threatening to tear his party apart.

Addressing party and government officials at an event to celebrate his ZANU-PF party's election victory last year, Mugabe described the power-sharing government with long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai as "humiliating".

"We had been shackled together with the likes of Tsvangirai and (opposition faction leader) Welshman Ncube," Mugabe said.

"That came about because we were divided. We allowed ourselves to be divided. It should never happen again."

Mugabe beat Tsvangirai in general elections on July 31 last year, ending the five-year power-sharing government which was characterised by bickering.

Mugabe's party has been divided into factions jostling to succeed the veteran ruler, who at 90 years is the Africa's oldest leader.

Haggling between the factions cost the party dearly in the 2008 elections when Tsvangirai's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won the majority of parliamentary seats.

In a surprise move they said was meant to bridge divisions, party loyalists have endorsed Mugabe's wife Grace to take over as leader of the powerful women's wing.