Zimbabwe's former President Robert Mugabe declared he will not vote for Zanu PF, the party that ousted him from office, hours before the country's elections on Monday.
In a surprise press conference, Mr Mugabe said he will not vote for his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa in the elections, the first of their kind since Mr Mugabe was removed from office, and seemingly the freest in decades.
"I will not vote for those who have illegally taken power," Mr Mugabe said, referring to presidential nominee Mnangagwa, who helped orchestrate a quiet coup with military support.
Slow and rambling, Mr Mugabe spoke with bitterness about his removal from office in November, eventually admitting "I cannot vote for Zanu PF," the party he controlled for more than 40 years.
The historic election pits Mr Mugabe's former vice-President Mr Mnangagwa, 77, against the younger opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, 40.
Mr Mugabe said Mr Chamisa "seems to be doing well at his rallies...I wish to meet him if he wins," adding "whoever wins, we wish him well...and let us accept the verdict."
Mr Mugabe previously appeared in a carefully staged photograph with another presidential candidate, Ambrose Mutinhiri, a Mugabe loyalist, who opposed his removal, although this made little impact.
Zimbabweans will be looking for a radical overhaul to save a collapsed economy, looking to attract desperately needed foreign investment.
The current president, and Mr Mugabe's successor, Mr Mnangagwa, has positioned himself as a reformist, inviting back election observers and pledging a free and fair vote.
Mr Chamisa, of the MDC Alliance, uses humour at his rallies to inspire young people to vote for new economic opportunities. At 40-years-old, until November, Mr Chamisa had not known Zimbabwean politics without Mr Mugabe and could be the country's youngest president.
"If Mugabe is able to go to my inauguration that is good news," Chamisa said in response to Mr Mugabe's endorsement.
"I have nothing to do with what president Mugabe would want to say as a voter."
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Read more:
Editorial: Fairness is crucial in Zimbabwe's post-Mugabe election
Zimbabwe's post-Mugabe election: The 'Crocodile' vs the young opposition leader
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The 94-year-old ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, following emancipation from white minority rule in 1980. Mr Mugabe's incumbency was mired with vote-rigging, intimidation and violent land seizures from white farmers.
At the press conference, the ageing president reminded people of his years in prison during his country's fight for liberation, and his efforts to raise education standards. Now, Mr Mugabe calls for a democratic constitution and the people's freedom to speak.
In November last year, Zimbabwe's generals seized control and ushered Mr Mnangagwa to power when it appeared Mr Mugabe was positioning his 53-year-old wife, Grace, to succeed him.
The former president blamed his removal from office – an event met with public celebrations in the capital – on "evil and malicious characters." Although his abdication seemed inevitable given the pressure, Mr Mugabe said he only resigned to avoid bloodshed.
Today's press conference was a rare public appearance since the former leader resigned. In December he was seen at a hospital in Singapore on an international medical visit, part of the retirement package allocated for former presidents.
The former "Big Man" was next photographed on his birthday in February at "Blue Roof", his Harare retreat, where he spends most of his time. The event, previously celebrated with grand ceremonies and outpouring of praise, was a black-tie affair for close family only. Photographs showed Mr Mugabe in a bow tie and his wife, Grace, wearing a red dress.
Sunday's address was only his second since he resigned. Speaking to reporters at "Blue Roof" in March, the former president appeared depressed and expressed shock that his long-time ally had succeeded him.
"We must undo this disgrace which we have imposed on ourselves... Zimbabwe doesn't deserve it," he said in press interviews, adding he did not want to return to power. "I never thought...[Mr Mnangagwa] would be the man who turned against me," he said.
Mrs Mugabe was on hand in a domestic role, handing out pizza to guests, as Mr Mugabe insisted rumours of his plans for his wife's succession were "rubbish."
In Monday's press conference, as journalists started to leave, the former president, once one of the great strongmen of Africa, said: "I tried to do my best."
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Results
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
GOODBYE%20JULIA
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Specs%20
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More on animal trafficking
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
The%20specs
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The five pillars of Islam
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
Company%20Profile
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