Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is insisting that new elections should be held this year even if there is no new constitution as required by the regional leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

"Nobody is forced to go to an election but definitely I will exercise my presidential powers in accordance with the main principal law, the constitution of our country, and announce when the election will take place," he said in a birthday interview on state television.

"SADC cannot tell us to continue with an exercise that is futile," he said in an apparent reference to the coalition with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

 No plans for retirement yet

Mugabe, who is Africa's oldest leader, also announced he doesn't intend to step down any time soon. "Our members of the party will certainly select someone once I say I am now retiring, but not yet," he said. The 88-year old was chosen by ZANU-PF in December to run again as its presidential candidate.

"There is no one who can stand and win at the moment," he said of contenders in his party trying to succeed him.

Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence from Britain in 1980 and has shared power with Tsvangirai, his long-time foe, for the last three years following  elections marred by violence in 2008.

Critics say Mugabe's ZANU-PF has helped to ruin one of Africa's most promising economies by redistributing white-owned commercial farms and by its more recent drive to force foreign-owned companies to transfer the majority of their shareholdings to Zimbabweans. Mugabe has also been criticized for massive human rights abuses.

Suspected health problems

A 2008 US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks last year claimed Mugabe had fallen ill with prostate cancer that had spread to other organs. According to the cable, doctors said he had less than five years to live. Mugabe's health has been regarded as one reason why members of his party have pushed for new elections.

In their power-sharing agreement, Mugabe and Tsvangirai agreed that new polls would be held after a new constitution had been approved. But the constitution-drafting commission has said a referendum on a new charter could not be staged before August. Elections under a new constitution were therefore not likely before next year.

Mugabe said he was as "fit as a fiddle" and made fun of reports that said otherwise. "I have died many times," he said.

Mugabe also used his birthday broadcast to bash African leaders who turn to Western states for financial aid. "The current crop of leaders was quite different from revolutionaries who fought for Africa's independence," Mugabe said. "Not only have they become cowards, but have become sellouts of our own people. Betraying, betraying the nations of Africa."

The "21st of February Movement," which organizes Mugabe's birthday every year, will throw an expensive party for him on Saturday.

Author: Sarah Steffen (Reuters, AFP, dpa and additional reporting by Columbus Mavhunga)
Editor: Mark Caldwell / rm