Harare - Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence 32 years ago and eying another term in office, wants full control of foreign firms, showing no sign of seeking to redeem his image as an international pariah.
Once a darling of the West, the 88-year-old who is Africa's oldest ruler, once said in jest that he would rule until he turns 100.
At home his championing of a controversial equity law, which forces foreign-owned firms to cede their majority shares to local people, has cemented his hero status among his ZANU-PF party faithful.
On Friday he told the party's last conference before 2013 polls that he plans to increase the foreign firm's takeover from 51 percent to 100 percent - in an apparent move to garner support ahead of the vote.
“I think now we have done enough of 51 percent. Let it be 100 percent,” he told the delegates.
Known for his long-winded political speeches, punctuated with stinging criticism of his opponents, particularly Western countries, Mugabe's road to the top office has been marred with bloodshed.
In June 2008 he was re-elected to a sixth term after entering a presidential runoff uncontested.
His arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the race citing state-sponsored violence against his supporters, including torture and killings. The two later formed an uneasy power-sharing government.
Born on February 21, 1924, at Kutama Mission northwest of the capital Harare, Mugabe was described as a studious child and a loner and qualified as a teacher at the age of 17.
An intellectual who initially embraced Marxism, he took his first steps in politics when he enrolled at Fort Hare University in South Africa, where he met many of southern Africa's future black nationalist leaders.
He then resumed teaching, moving to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and later Ghana