According to BBC, at a rally of his Zanu-PF party supporters and veterans who remain loyal to him, Mr Mugabe urged the veterans to choose new leaders, and blamed the West for splits in the veterans' association.

The association, one of Mugabe's key backers, last week accused him of dictatorial tendencies.

In a statement, it also blamed the 92-year-old president for the rapidly deteriorating economic situation in the country.

It was not immediately clear if all of the veterans of the 1970s war against white minority rule agreed with the text. BBC reports.

Despite pressure growing with factions in the governing Zanu-PF openly fighting to succeed Mugabe and protests about the failing economy, he has said he plans to run for president again in 2018 and rule until he dies.

Addressing Wednesday's rally in Harare, Mr Mugabe said: "Once we find out who wrote that statement, the party will punish them.

"During the war we had rebels who we punished... some by detaining them underground, feeding them there".

He also warned that "the enemy is trying to divide us", blaming the West - in particular the British and US embassies - for the divisions. BBC reports.

The president also threatened protesters with jail, saying the country did not want violence.

The war veterans spearheaded the invasion of white-owned farms starting in 2000 and have been accused of using election violence to keep Mr Mugabe in power.