Harare — On Thursday, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe accused unnamed officials of his own party of trying to push him into retiring and likened them to the biblical betrayer Judas. The 93-year-old Mugabe, one of the world’s oldest leaders, has been in power since 1980. He intends to seek another five-year term at elections due next year. In public, his party, Zanu-PF, has rallied behind its aging leader, but in private its members are deeply divided over his continued leadership and who will eventually take over from him. Mugabe, who has repeatedly said his party will choose his successor when the time comes, said he was going nowhere and accused some party officials of supporting him during the day while plotting against him behind his back. "Others are like those that Jesus spoke about during his last supper, when he said ‘Some of you eating with me here shall betray me’. The Judas Iscariot. They are here among us," Mugabe said during the burial of a party member. "They want t...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.