As he marked his 93rd birthday on Tuesday, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe signalled that he had no intention of retiring any time soon and voiced support for US President Donald Trump’s policy of putting his country’s interests first. Speaking softly and haltingly in an interview with the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Mugabe said he would heed calls to step down only from within his ruling Zanu (PF). "They want me to stand for elections," he said. "If I feel I cannot do it any more, I will say so to my party so they relieve me. For now, I think I can’t say so. Also the majority of the people feel that there is no replacement actually, no successor who to them is acceptable as I am." The world’s oldest-serving leader, Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from the UK in 1980 and overseen an economic meltdown that has left more than 90% of the workforce without formal employment. He will seek to extend his rule next year, with Zanu (PF) nominating him as it...
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