afrol News, 13 December - Thousands of the ruling ZANU-PF party supporters who converged on the capital Harare for a crucial congress will endorse the candidature of President Robert Mugabe to contest for the Presidential elections for the sixth time.

The party is set to declare Mugabe as is candidate for Zimbabwe's 2008 elections thus shattering the hopes of his anointed deputy, Joyce Mujuru, from succeeding him.

Last year, Mugabe said there was no vacancy for his country's presidency. He criticised the party's senior officials of consulting faith healers in darkness so that they can boost their chances of leading the party.

At least, 10,000 members from 10 provinces have been accredited to attend the ZANU-PF-PF congress.

Mugabe, 83, had ruled Zimbabwe from British colonial rule since 1980. He is expected to win the polls scheduled for early January.

The Zimbabwean leader has renewed his tirades on western critics, warning them to avoid interfering with his country's internal affairs. He said Zimbabwe would only accept the involvement of African nations.

"They should not interfere in our internal affairs, in our regional affairs," Mugabe told party ZANU-PF conference.

"We are an independent state. If we need any assistance, we have our own neighbours to turn to. We have SADC, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the African Union."

Mugabe's statement was a response to mountains of criticisms he had received at the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon where the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, accused the Zimbabwean leader of undermining the image of Africa.

"We don't desire to talk to them," he said, referring to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown who boycotted the Lisbon meeting in protest at Mugabe's attendance.

"But there is an issue between us and them. How do they expect the issue to be resolved?" he asked.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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