President Robert Mugabe has reportedly told Zambian Vice-President Guy Scott that he wants to quit, saying he has had enough. REPORT BY NQABA MATSHAZI

In an interview with the British Guardian newspaper published yesterday, Scott said Mugabe told him a few months ago that he wanted to emulate Zambia and hand over power soon.

“I think if you asked him, he’d say it was enough. That’s what he said to us a few months ago,” Scott is quoted as having said.

“I said the way forward in African democracy is the way we do it in Zambia. He (Mugabe) said: I absolutely agree, I wish it would happen to me’.”

Scott said Mugabe was toying with the idea of handing over power if he loses the next elections, which are due sometime this year.

The Zambian Vice-President described Mugabe as British at heart and a “funny chap”. “He’s a funny chap. He seems to doze off and then he suddenly laughs at a joke while in the middle ofdozing,” Scott said.

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“And very articulate, without a note, without a scrap of anything.

“He’s an Anglophone. He loves to give lectures on the English language, English weighing systems, English this or that. He was a teacher and so he taught himself all that.”

Ironically, Mugabe, who has ruled for 33 years, claims he is a victim of a British-led illegal regime change agenda and has for the past decade been fighting against anything British.

Scott’s comments will come as a surprise, as Zambian President Michael Sata has publicly backed Mugabe, insisting that the Zimbabwean leader should continue as President. Mugabe counts Sata as one of his staunchest allies in the region and Scott’s comments are likely to rock relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

George Charamba, the Presidential spokesperson, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Zanu PF has for years been trying to sell Mugabe to the electorate as an infallible leader who, despite his advanced age, can continue to lead Zimbabwe for the next decade.

Speaking openly about Mugabe’s succession is often considered as heresy.

Scott, who says he went to school in Zimbabwe, said racism was a serious issue in his country’s southern neighbour and Mugabe’s attitude could have been as result of segregation during colonial times.

“I’m sure any good African nationalist admires Mugabe,” he said.

“Racism in Zimbabwe is a serious issue. I was sent to school down there (Marondera) and it was like being in the Hitler Youth: the theories about black inferiority and this kind of stuff.

“It was a whites-only school; they tried to introduce an Indian and he was hounded out at the instigation of the parents of the boys. I think Mugabe is a product of having to contend with that.”