Mugabe wants power to name own successor

President Robert Mugabe opened Zimbabwe's parliament yesterday with plans to push through laws that will allow him to appoint his successor without an election, and force businesses to give a controlling stake to ruling party loyalists and others chosen by the government.

Mr Mugabe said he would not retreat from his order for all shops to cut prices by at least half to try to curb hyperinflation. Officially, inflation stands at 4,500% but some economists put it at five times that. The cuts caused a short-term shopping spree but then brought shortages as shops could not afford to restock and sell at a loss.

He plans to push through a bill that will consolidate presidential and parliamentary elections, and require only a vote in parliament to replace a president who resigns between elections. He also plans a law that will require all businesses to be at least 51% Zimbabwean owned and managed.