Mugabe urges voters to reject Mnangagwa
News & Trends •
on the eve of zimbabwes first election since his ouster in a de facto coup the 94-year-old said he hoped his former allies in the military government would be voted out of power2 mugabe whose 37-year rule came to an end when he was forced to resign in november told reporters at his mansion in harare on sunday that president emmerson mnangagwas government was unconstitutional and ruled by the gun2 i hope the choice of voting tomorrow will throw thrust away the military government and bring us back to constitutionality said a frail looking mugabe in a rambling off the cuff speech that lasted almost an hour2 let tomorrow be the voice of the people to say never again shall we experience a period where the army is used to thrust one person into power2 mondays election will see 75-year-old mnangagwa a long-time mugabe ally face 40-year-old nelson chamisa a lawyer and pastor who is vying to become zimbabwes youngest head of state2 for former zimbabwe leader robert mugabe it was payback time to president emmerson mnangagwa and other coup plotters in zanu-pf who removed him from office last november as he urged voters to reject them in mondays election1 polls which are unreliable give former intelligence chief mnangagwa a slim lead over chamisa1 both candidates are due to address the media later on sunday1 mugabe one of the last big men of african politics still looms large over zimbabwean politics and he may yet influence the first vote without his name on the ballot paper since the country gained independence from britain in 19801 though he became increasingly unpopular with most zimbabweans as mismanagement and corruption sent the economy into decline he retains support in his rural heartland where supporters remain bitter about the manner of his removal1