Tsvangirai says Mugabe should take advantage of SONA to announce his retirement

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai today urged President Robert Mugabe to take advantage of Thursday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) to announce his retirement as this would be the best Christmas present ever for Zimbabweans.

He also assured the 92-year-old leader that no one would hound him because people had a lot more to do to restore national pride.

“We are proud Africans and in our culture, we value and respect old people,” Tsvangirai said in a statement. “He has no reason to fear. He can safely announce his retirement and he has our assurance no one will pursue him. Retiring now can only enhance his legacy.”

The MDC-T leader said: “As (Mugabe) prepares to address the nation on Thursday, the only worthwhile Christmas present he could give the nation is an announcement that he is retiring. There comes a time when leaders must make bold but popular decisions. For President Mugabe, this is the time and Thursday provides him with the perfect opportunity to do so.”

Tsvangirai has persistently been calling on Mugabe to step down but his ZANU-PF party says Mugabe has a mandate to fulfill and should serve his term which ends in 2018.

The party has, however, already endorsed him as its presidential candidate for the next elections, though age is beginning to tell on Mugabe who will turn 93 in just under three months.

Mugabe left the country yesterday to attend former Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s funeral. Some Zimbabweans lamented the death of Castro, who struggled against the United States for decades, while sparing Mugabe tweeting: "Castro dies and God is just ignoring Zimbabweans' prayers just like that. Everyone dying except that one guy."

Way back in 2000, the United States said Mugabe saw himself as the Fidel Castro of Southern Africa as he embarked on his controversial land reform programme.

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