Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe used a 2-hour television interview to ridicule his former deputy who launched a new political party this week to challenge the ruling party Zanu-PF.
“They will live in the wilderness, where little ants and other biting insects are destined to live”, he said.
“Some think we are afraid of them. We are not.”
Mujuru, who was sacked by Mugabe in 2014, officially unveiled the Zimbabwe People First party on Tuesday.
A former Zanu-PF stalwart and liberation war veteran, Mujuru served in all cabinets under Mugabe and was seen for many years as his favoured choice of successor.
But she was fired after a sustained campaign by the president’s wife Grace, who accused her of fomenting party division and plotting to topple Mugabe, who turned 92 two weeks ago.
As speculation increases over his succession, Mugabe vowed he would not hesitate to expel disloyal party members.
“The party will always have negative elements. Those we feel are troublesome, we chuck them out,” he said,
“I want to reach 100 years so I have only eight strides to go,’ Mugabe said in his annual birthday interview screened by the state broadcaster ZBC on Thursday night.
The veteran leader ruled out naming a successor, saying he was nearing his goal of ruling until he is 100.
“I did not go into the 2013 election for someone else to complete my term which ends in 2018.”
Mugabe also downplayed reports that he is preparing his wife, Grace, 50, to succeed him.
“Where has it ever happened that a wife becomes a successor?” asked Mugabe.
“I have no authority to appoint someone as president after me.”
