'Isolated' Mugabe told to step down - sources

Embattled Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been told by his trusted lieutenants that it is time for him to step down, and is considering retiring to either Malawi or Namibia.

Sources revealed at the weekend that Mugabe has been told by Happyton Bonyongwe, the head of the Central Intelligence Organisation, Nathan Shamuyarira, the Zanu-PF information secretary and Didymus Mutasa, the security minister, that he will lose the next election if he stands.

Mugabe has been advised to appoint a successor immediately to save Zanu-PF from embarrassment in the 2008 poll.

A senior Zanu-PF official said at the weekend that Mugabe was now seriously considering stepping down.

"He has become increasingly isolated and is feeling it. His trusted friends in the party, Mutasa and Shamuyarira, now regard him as burden to Zanu-PF and are pushing for him to go," the source said.


Last week, a high level security meeting was held after a foiled coup, of which Solomon Mujuru - retired army general and husband of Deputy President Joyce Mujuru - is alleged to have been the mastermind. At that meeting, the source said, Mugabe was told by his lieutenants that his time was up.

"He is considering Malawi and Namibia as possible retirement homes," the source said. "He has properties (farms) in those countries and has started making moves because he knows that he will be unable to live safely in Zimbabwe when he is no longer president."

ZimDaily, an online publication, reported that Mugabe had used a recent trip to Malawi to look at a farm he was offered by President Bingu wa Mutharika. Mugabe is also said to have been guaranteed a safe haven in Namibia by his long-time ally Sam Nujoma.