Ousted Zimbabwe deputy president asks Mugabe to resign

HARARE (AFP) – Zimbabwe's ousted deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday asked President Robert Mugabe to respect public opinion and step down and said he would only return home when his security was assured.

''The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign, so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy,'' Mnangagwa said in a statement.

Zimbabwe's ruling party is to launch impeachment proceedings Tuesday against President Robert Mugabe, in the latest bid to oust the 93-year-old strongman still clinging to power after 37 years in office.

A military takeover last week was followed by huge street protests against the authoritarian leader, and the ZANUPF, his own once-loyal party, has also turned against him.

''The party has instructed the chief whip to proceed with impeachment processes,'' ZANU-PF said in a statement, with the motion due to be presented before parliament on Tuesday.

On Monday evening, army chief Constantino Chiwenga told reporters that progress had been made in talks towards an apparent exit deal for Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state.

He also said Mugabe was in touch with Emmerson Mnangagwa, the ousted vice president whose sacking led to the military takeover and Mugabe's shock loss of power.

''The security services are encouraged by new developments which include contact between the president and the former vice president... who is expected in the country shortly,'' Chiwenga said.

''The nation will be advised of the outcome of talks between the two.''

Chiwenga called for calm after Zimbabweans had celebrated Saturday at antiMugabe marches that would have been brutally repressed just a week ago.

The marchers' joy quickly turned to despair as Mugabe brushed aside the turmoil, blithely declaring on Sunday that he would chair a top-level meeting of the party that had just disavowed him.

In a televised address, the president defied expectations he would step down, pitching the country into a second week of political crisis.

Mugabe's wife Grace, 52, secured prime position to succeed her husband when Mnangagwa, who is close to the military leadership, was abruptly fired.

After Mnangagwa fled abroad, the army took over the country and placed Mugabe under house arrest.

The army insists it has not carried out a coup, but rather an operation to arrest allegedly corrupt supporters around the Mugabe family.

ZANU-PF lawmakers said that they would take the first steps to impeach Mugabe on Tuesday after he ignored their ultimatum to resign.

Mugabe is thought to be battling to delay his exit in order to secure a deal that would guarantee protection for him and his family.

''It might take days and weeks, but Mugabe is on his way out,'' said Charles Muramba, a 46-year-old bus driver in Harare.