'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.

Two African leaders attend funeral of Malawi's president's wife

Two African presidents on Saturday joined thousands of Malawians at the funeral of Ethel Mutharika, wife of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died last month after a two-year fight with cancer.

Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete, with their wives and aides, travelled to Mutharika's estate at Ndata, 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the commercial capital Blantyre, where Ethel was buried in a colourful military ceremony.

Thousands of villagers lined the route from Blantyre to the estate, to pay their last respects to the woman Malawians fondly called the First Lady.

Former president Bakili Muluzi, at loggerheads with Mutharika in a power struggle, and current vice president Cassim Chilumpha, awaiting treason trial for an alleged attempt to assassinate the president, attended the ceremony, which lasted more than five hours.

Leaders of the country's powerful opposition, including John Tembo, also attended the funeral, which was broadcast live on state television and radio.

Ethel was married to Mutharika for 37 years. The couple had four children.