Mugabe going nowhere and keeping hold of his vast wealth

ROBERT MUGABE and his family are set to remain in Zimbabwe under a deal with the ruling party that will see them retreat from politics in exchange for secure retirement, diplomatic and political sources in Harare said.

Mr Mugabe, 93, resigned on Tuesday after a military coup and an outpouring of public anger at economic mismanagement, corruption, and political violence during nearly four decades under his rule.

During celebrations in Harare in response to his resignation, one man told The Daily Telegraph he would like to see the former president “in leg irons”.

However, in a possible indication of plans to rehabilitate the ousted president, posters were put up in Harare yesterday bearing the slogan “Let Mugabe rest now”.

Mr Mugabe and his family may also be allowed to retain control of their assets, including the “Blue Roof ”, the vast luxury Harare mansion where Mr Mugabe and Grace Mugabe, the former first lady, spent the past week under house arrest.

It is unclear whether there would be any investigation into how Mrs Mugabe amassed her vast wealth, believed to include the largest land and real estate portfolio owned by anyone in Zimbabwean history.

Welshman Ncube, an opposition leader, said: “Given the vitriol and hatred towards Grace Mugabe, I suspect she will move in and out but spend more time out of Zimbabwe.”

Other prominent allies of Mrs Mugabe have already fled the country, including Phelekezela Mphoko, Zimbabwe’s second vice-president; Savior Kasukuwere, the local government minister; and Jonathan Moyo, an education minister.