Zimbabwe's ex-president Robert Mugabe has given a surprise
press conference on the eve of the nation's elections.
Mr Mugabe said he would not support his successor in the
Zanu-PF party, Emmerson Mnangagwa, after being forced from office by the
"party I founded".
"I cannot vote for those who tormented me," he
said. "I will make my choice among the other 22 [candidates]."
Zimbabweans go to the polls on Monday in the first vote
since Mr Mugabe was ousted in November.
Speaking from his home in the capital, Harare, on Sunday,
the former president again said he had been "sacked" as part of a
military coup and that he left office in order to "avoid conflict".
He said that he now wished the leader of the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Nelson Chamisa, well in Monday's vote.
"He seems to be doing well, and if he is elected I
wish him well," he said. “I cannot vote for the party or those in
power who caused me to be in this condition. I cannot vote for them, I can’t,”
When asked by the BBC's Fergal Keane if he would like to
see Mr Chamisa gain power in Zimbabwe, Mr Mugabe, 94, indicated that he was the
only viable candidate.
Mr Mugabe said: "I hope the choice of voting tomorrow
will throw, thrust away the military government and bring us back to
constitutionality.
"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 power."
Mr Mugabe also denied that, as president, he had planned to
hand the leadership to his wife, Grace, saying it was "utter
nonsense", and suggested that ex-defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi should
have taken over.
Mr Mugabe added that, since he was forced from office last
year, "the people of Zimbabwe have not been free". bbc
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