* Mugabe accuses rivals of using legal reforms against him
* Mugabe says ZANU-PF will reject radical reforms
* Mugabe mocks rivals as barking dogs with no bite
* Interview avoids Mugabe health issue
By Cris Chinaka
HARARE, Feb 19 (Reuters) – Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe accused his political rivals of trying to use
constitutional reforms to get rid of him, but warned that his
ZANU-PF party would reject any changes threatening its future,
the Sunday Mail newspaper reported.
Mugabe, who turns 88 on Tuesday and was forced into a
coalition government following disputed elections in 2008, is
seeking to extend his 32 years in power in an early poll that
he wants held this year, a year ahead of schedule.
In an interview with the state-owned newspaper, Mugabe
charged that lawyers hired to draft a new national charter and
rivals from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) had “erred” by including issues not
gathered from a public survey.
Asked about clauses in the first draft that could bar him
from running for another term, Mugabe said although he had not
yet read the document, such a proposal and the inclusion of gay
rights would not be accepted by his party.
Continued…
