Mugabe ordered to resign

ZIMBABWE’S ruling ZANUPF party has called on President Robert Mugabe to resign, the main state newspaper The

Herald reported, the latest sign the ageing leader’s authority has collapsed following an army takeover.

The paper said ZANU-PF branches in all 10 provinces met on Friday and had also called for Mr Mugabe’s wife Grace, whose ambitions to succeed her husband triggered the unfolding political crisis, to resign from the party.

Mr Mugabe appeared in public on Friday for the first time since the army took charge, as the ruling party made plans to force him to step down after almost four decades in power.

The president, who is 93, opened a graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University in Harare. He wore blue and yellow academic robes and a mortar board hat and appeared to fall asleep in his chair as his eyes closed and his head lolled.

Mr Mugabe has dominated its politics since independence in 1980.

A senior member of the ZANU-PF ruling party said it wanted him gone. “If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday,” the source said.

“When that is done, it’s impeachment on Tuesday.”

The Herald said ZANU-PF would convene a Central Committee meeting to “realign the revolutionary party with current political developments.”

The military, which seized power on Wednesday, has treated Mr Mugabe carefully. It said in a statement on national television it was “engaging” with Mr Mugabe, referred to him as Commander in Chief and said it would announce an outcome as soon as possible.