Mugabe, at 89 still hungry for power

Zimbabwe's veteran leader Robert Mugabe once quipped that he would rule his country until he turned 100.

It may have been just another witty remark from the notoriously sharp-tongued leader, but at 89, Mugabe shows few signs of flagging as he bids for a seventh turn in office.

In three turbulent decades at the helm of the former British colony, the firebrand leader has gone from a darling of the West to international pariah, and many are keen to see a new era in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe swept to power as a hero in the fight against white minority rule, bringing democracy to millions of black Zimbabweans, and was widely credited with health and education reforms.

But his lustre quickly faded.

From crushing political dissent to ushering in disastrous land reforms that saw the economy crumble, many accuse Mugabe of turning the regional breadbasket of Zimbabwe into a basket case.

Mugabe, using blistering rhetoric, has often blamed his country's downward spiral on international sanctions.

A new constitution approved in March could see Mugabe serve another two terms -- until he is 99 years old -- but he could not hide his age on the campaign trail.

His trademark walkabout was dropped in favour of a wave to supporters from the back of a van and as he harangued his enemies from the podium, his elbows leaned heavily on it for support.

Mugabe's health has been a topic of much speculation in recent years.

He makes frequent medical trips to Singapore -- purportedly to treat cataracts -- and a 2008 US diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks mentioned he had prostate cancer.

But Mugabe retains an iron self-confidence, telling the New York Times in a rare interview ahead of Wednesday's election: "The 89 years don't mean anything."

"They haven't changed me, have they? They haven't withered me. They haven't made me senile yet, no. I still have ideas, ideas that need to be accepted by my people."

To Read Further, Click Here