Zimbabwe’s Mugabe says divisions have weakened his party, cost them majority in 2008 poll

Mugabe says divisions have weakened his party

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s president says infighting is destroying the party that has kept him in power for nearly three decades.

Robert Mugabe told about 10,000 delegates at a gathering of his ZANU-PF party Friday that the divisions cost them their parliamentary majority in last year’s contested polls.

Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. He was forced into a unity government with former rivals following the 2008 election.

The 85-year-old leader said the party is “eating itself” as officials scramble to hold on to political power. This is to the opposition’s benefit, he said.

The unity government saw many Mugabe cronies lose lucrative positions.