Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has threatened to punch an interviewer who asked him about his retirement plans.
Speaking on state television, Mugabe responded testily after the journalist quizzed him about a potential successor.
“Why ‘successor’ when I am still there?” the 92-year-old said in the interview.
“Why do you want a successor? Do you want me to punch you to the floor to realise I am still there?” he added, clenching his fist.
Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since the country was formed in 1980 from the ashes of white-ruled Rhodesia.
He says he has no plans to hand over power and ruled out coaching his politically ambitious wife, Grace, as his chosen successor.
“Grooming a successor, is it an inheritance?” he asked.
“In a democratic party you don’t want leaders appointed that way. They have to be appointed properly by the people. Succession is not part of our culture.”
Mugabe turned 92 on 21 February, amid fierce squabbling in the ruling ZANU-PF party in anticipation of his rule coming to an end.
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