Thousands demand Mugabe resignation
7am7am, a f ter whiwhich hi s phonphone was unreaunreachable. MuMugabe will be removedrem as t h e hehe a d of Zanu-PF but tectechnically remains as presidenpresident. This morning, Zanu-ZanuPF are expected to sack MugabeMug and reinstate the vice-presidentpres he dismissed, EmmersEmmerson “The Crocodile” Mnangagwa.Mnangagw Mnangagwa returnreturned to the country on WednesdaWednesday. A party central committeecom meeting, scheduled for 8.30am UK time, is also expeexpected to dismiss the president ’ s preferred successor, his wife Grace, from her role as head of the party’s women’s league.
The move makes it almost impossible for Mugabe to continue to cling to power.
The decision will be ratified today and put into effect next week.
The dictator was not in a motorcade seen leaving his residence yesterday. Crowds booed and jeered as the convoy of limousines left the £7.5million “Blue Roof” mansion.
Anti-Mugabe speeches were made at a rally at the Harare football stadium to a crowd of hundreds of thousands of protesters.
Several speakers shouted “Viva Zimbabwe” to prolonged cheers and singing from the crowds, mixed with blasts of music over the loudspeakers.
“Mugabe and his typist-cumwife must go home,” said Victor Matemadanda, the secretarygeneral of the powerful War Veterans’ Association.
“Let’s go and take back the country from the State House.”
Zimbabwe had been in a state of suspense following the military takeover that finally shook Mugabe’s grip on power.
The president and his family had been confined to their home after the military took control of state media, parliament and government offices.
Mugabe, however, made one defiant public appearance at a university ceremony on Friday.
The intervention by the armed forces appeared to follow the sacking of his deputy Mnangagwa and his bid to establish his wife Grace as his successor. Last night, there was confusion over the whereabouts of the president’s wife.
Some observers suggested she had already left the country, others said she was still with the president.