Rambling Mugabe refuses to step down – impeachment looms

Photo: ANA Pictures

Photo: ANA Pictures

Published Nov 19, 2017

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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe improbably clung to power on Sunday night during a rambling speech in the capital Harare.

Reading from a prepared script which he stumbled over several times, the 93-year-old dictator announced a party conference to take place in the coming weeks and said he would be presiding over it.

Mugabe promised to resolve internal conflicts within his Zanu-PF party and called for national unity and security, but gave absolutely no hint of his much-anticipated resignation. 

Veterans leader Chris Mutsvangwa subsequently said plans for Mugabe's impeachment will move ahead on Monday after he was given until midday to step down. 

Speaking from the State House, his official residence, the dictator, who was wearing a dark suit and red tie, called for his nation to 'move forward'.

The announcement, which MailOnline understands was recorded earlier today, attracted the highest viewing numbers for the national broadcaster, ZBC, since 1980 when the Zanu-PF won power.

The broadcast was delayed by technical difficulties and was preceded by a screening of Shakira's Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) song, as well as hours of revolutionary and celebratory tunes on Zimbabwe's national broadcaster, ZBC.

The lyrics of one of the songs said, 'all of our problems have disappeared' in Shona, the local language. Another said: 'It was so difficult and so heavy, but because of you, God, we are here, we have conquered'.

Street celebrations, which began as news of the resignation broke, quickly broke down into a sense of despondency. The capital was deserted as bewildered Zimbabweans stayed at home, fearful of what might come.

It came after MailOnline exclusively revealed that the elderly dictator was in a state of psychological collapse, crying for his dead son and late first wife, refusing to speak or wash and staging a desperate hunger strike.   

Mugabe was replaced by Mnangagwa after all ten Zimbabwean provinces passed no-confidence motions against the dictator two days earlier.

Ahead of his meeting with army officials to discuss his exit, Mugabe was 'wailing profusely' and saying that he wished he could speak to his dead wife, Sally Mugabe, and his late son, Michael Nhamodzenyika, who died from cerebral malaria in 1966 at the age of three. 

'He spends most of his time looking at an old photograph of Sally. It is terrible,' the aide said of Mugabe's first wife, who died of kidney failure in 1992. 

In 1996, Mugabe went on to marry his current wife, 'Gucci' Grace, who was also expelled from her role as head of the Zanu-PF Women's League 'forever'.

The frail dictator has been staging a hunger strike over his confinement in house arrest and is refusing to take regular baths or speak, the aide added.  

The only person who has managed to get through to him was the Catholic cleric Father Fidelis Mukonori, who is mediating between Mugabe and the generals, the aide added. 

Images of the meeting showed Mugabe, who wore a black suit, white shirt and red tie, with his hand to his head and deep in conversation with senior security officials, including army chief Constantino Chiwenga who led the military takeover earlier this week.

'President Robert Mugabe this afternoon met with Zimbabwe Defence Forces Generals at State House,' the Herald said on its Twitter feed, accompanied by photographs. 

Mnangagwa within touching distance of the presidency, delayed only by Mr Mugabe's continued refusal to step down. 

Following his resignation, Mugabe could live as an 'elder statesman' in Zimbabwe, or travel to a country where he has property, including South Africa, Dubai or Singapore.

While Mugabe has been removed from his role of Zanu-PF party leader, his title as Zimbabwean president remains.

Impeaching the president is the next step when Parliament resumes Tuesday, and lawmakers will 'definitely' put the process in motion, the main opposition's parliamentary chief whip told The Associated Press. 

Daily Mail

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