Mugabe blasts succession 'war' in ruling party

Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe's ageing President Robert Mugabe has blasted succession feuding threatening to split his ruling party, declaring he was still in control just weeks ahead of a crucial party meeting.

"Some war is going on in my party. People want positions. They even want to push senior people out," Mugabe said in a speech delivered to lawmakers on Tuesday but broadcast on national television only on Wednesday.

"Some are saying 'Mr Mugabe is old so he should step down'," he said in his strongest condemnation yet of the factional fight for his and other top posts.

"Who brought the party to where it is now? Who experienced colonial rule jail and was in the bush alongside the freedom fighters?

"Then along comes a mere child. No! when my time comes I will tell you," the 90-year-old veteran leader said, without naming anyone.

Despite efforts over the years to paper over its differences, ZANU-PF goes to an elective congress in early December deeply divided as factions jostle for the country's top job.

Mugabe has in the past bemoaned the division in his party and called his Information Minister Jonathan Moyo "a weevil" for using the media to settle scores with rivals in the party.

He has also chastised a faction in ZANU-PF for plotting a campaign codenamed Bhora Musango (deliberately missing the goalpost) in which candidates for the legislature canvassed for their own votes in the 2008 elections without campaigning for Mugabe.

As a result, Mugabe lost the first round of the presidential election to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, while for the first time since independence from Britain in 1980, his party lost its majority in parliament.

Mugabe's latest remarks came after his wife Grace claimed in mid-October that Vice President Joice Mujuru was threatening to tear ZANU-PF apart and plotting to overthrow the veteran president.

Grace Mugabe called on Mujuru to resign or be forced to step aside.

In a public show of her dislike for Mujuru, Grace Mugabe avoided shaking the vice president's hand at the airport two weeks ago when Mujuru stood in a line with other senior government and party officials seeing the Mugabes off to the Vatican.

Mujuru and powerful Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa are seen as the leading contenders to replace 90-year-old Mugabe, who has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

The battle escalated following Grace Mugabe's surprise nomination this year to lead the powerful women's wing of ZANU-PF, amid speculation she could be aiming to take over from her husband when he steps down or dies.

Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader, is expected to be confirmed as the party's leader at the congress early in December, but the fight for positions on the powerful politburo could be decisive for the campaign to succeed him.