Robert Mugabe says he will vote against the old party

Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe struck a stern blow to the ruling party ahead of Monday's general election, stating that he would not vote for his country's presidential ballot candidate.

The deposed dictator, 94, said: "I can not vote for those who tormented me".

million. Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe last year after being removed from office. a military takeover prompted the ruling Zanu-PF party, which he led for four decades, to force him to resign. Zanu-PF MPs threatened to dismiss him if he refused to resign.

million. Mugabe was replaced by his former confidant and MP, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the country's interim leader. He is now Zanu-PF's candidate in the race to become the new president of Zimbabwe.

"For the first time we now have a long list of aspirants in power.I will make my choice among the other 22 [presidential candidates] but the list is long," said a frail Mr. Mugabe at his residence Private Blue Roof in the Capital.

The effect that his announcement will have on an electorate that despises largely remains unclear, but his remarks are a huge embarrbadment for the former liberation movement that He has led for more than four decades.

Nelson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), are the first to stand shoulder to shoulder, according to recent election polls. is leading an alliance of five opposition parties

Asked by reporters to find out if he wished Mr Chamisa a good poll, Mr Mugabe replied: "He seems to go well, and if he is elected, I wish him good luck. However, he denied recent news that he helped Chamisa during his election campaign.

million. Mugabe added that he hoped the army would be permanently removed from the government after Monday's vote. After the military takeover in November, some of the generals involved were appointed to Mr. Mnangagwa's cabinet

"Let tomorrow be the voice of the people to say that we will never again know a period when the army is used to impose a power on power "More than 5.6 million Zimbabweans are registered to vote in the general elections, which is the first national poll in 38 years in which Mr Mugabe does not participate.

If Zanu-PF is defeated in the election he would be the first former liberation movement in southern Africa that ended colonial rule in his country to lose power.