Mugabe realised it was ‘time to go’ after seeing celebrations in streets

Priest tells of discussions with president as military took over and says that no immunity deal is in place

INDEMNITY for Robert Mugabe and Grace, his wife, was not part of any discussions with the military in the runup to his resignation last week, according to Father Fidelis Mukonori, Zimbabwe’s most senior Jesuit priest.

Fr Mukonori, a close friend and ally of Mr Mugabe, 93, for more than 40 years, spent up to 18 hours a day in discussions with him before “the old man” let it be known he would quit as the impeachment process began in Zimba- bwe’s parliament last Tuesday.

“He had hoped to stay on until the Zanu-pf congress next month,” Fr Fidelis told The Daily Telegraph yesterday, but he decided on seeing street celebrations after the military took over, that it was “time to go”.

Zimbabwe’s armed forces launched a soft coup d’etat just before midnight on Nov 14, nine days after Mr Mugabe sacked Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice-president, who fled to South Africa, and went on, supported by the military, to become Zimbabwean president on Friday.

After Mr Mugabe realised the impeachment process would deal with him swiftly, he called the speaker of parliament and told him he was going to quit, but needed to put it in writing. A letter was quickly drawn up, signed and taken by Happyton Bonyongwe, the recently appointed justice minister, from the Mugabes’s private ‘blue roof ’ mansion to parliament.

Fr Fidelis said Mr Mugabe was in good spirits and that he would enjoy his retirement.

“I don’t know yet what he is going to do but I hope he will get down to writing his memories. He is in good health and cheerful. I have spoken to him twice since he resigned and his voice sounds good, as usual,” he said.

When asked whether Mr Mugabe had negotiated indemnity from prosecution, Fr Fidelis said: “We did not discuss that at all.” If there were to be any criminal charges against Mrs Mugabe, he said, “that will have to be dealt with by the ruling party and the government”. The Zimbabwe Independent claimed over the weekend that Mr Mugabe would get a “bonus” payment of about £8.3 million – half immediately and the rest some time later.

However, Tendai Biti, the former finance minister, is calling for an investigation into the Mugabe family’s assets.

“He is a naughty old man, but he must not be harmed,” Mr Biti said. “He must be given right of free passage. If he wants to go to Dubai, let him go to Dubai, he needs a holiday.”

Mr Mugabe shuns medical treatment in Zimbabwe and South Africa and insists on taking a Boeing 767, Zimbabwe’s only international aircraft, to see his medical team in Singapore several times a year.

Leo Mugabe, Mr Mugabe’s nephew, a farmer and businessmen, said yesterday his uncle was “fine... quite jovial”.

“He is actually looking forward to his new life – farming and staying at the rural home. He has taken it well.”

He said that Mrs Mugabe was concentrating on plans to build a university in his honour.

“I like the spirit she has, she is with him all the time. She is an amazing person. She wants to continue planning the Robert Mugabe University so they have something to do,” he said.

Zimbabwe announced plans in August to build the £900million university in Mazowe, 20 miles outside Harare, but it is unlikely the university will be built any time soon.