Harare - Zanu PF Members of Parliament (MP) were on Monday locked in a meeting that started at 4pm as the party prepares to whip its legislators into line ahead of the vote of no confidence in President Robert Mugabe, which they plan to institute in the House of Assembly.
Opposition MP, James Maridadi confirmed that Parliament will sit at 2.30pm on Tuesday, while Zanu PF has decided to carry out their impeachment threat after Mugabe defied the Monday midday deadline to step down.
The impeachment is not the only plan of action set for Tuesday, to force Mugabe to step down. The war veterans have organised a mass rally to complement the parliamentary process.
Parliament needs two thirds majority for the impeachment to succeed.
Zanu PF legislator Paul Mangwana said they have held talks with the opposition MDC party who have promised to give them 71 votes that will guarantee the impeachment sails through Parliament.
"We want this impeachment process to be done and dusted by Thursday and [former vice president Emmerson] Mnangagwa installed as president," said Mangwana.
READ MORE: Zanu-PF discussing defiant Mugabe's impeachment
Zanu PF said they have invoked their constitutional right to recall Mugabe as president by Thursday, and to replace him with Mnangagwa.
War veterans have also organised a mass rally in Harare to complement the parliament process.
War veterans leader Chris Mutsvangwa said this time they plan to sleep on the streets.
"This time there will be a sit in. Last time it was the army that stopped the march to his house when people took to the streets," said Mutsvangwa.
Meanwhile, University of Zimbabwe students have added to the pressure and shut down the institution at a time when exams should be under way.
They have vowed not to return to class until Mugabe goes. They also want the university to reverse the doctorate conferred on his wife Grace after just three months of registering with the institution.
With police confined to the barracks by the army that is keeping a firm control on the country, the sight of a law enforcement officers has been almost none existent since the army took charge last week.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National broadcaster, ZBC, has been told to be on standby by the army as there could be another announcement from either Mugabe or the military tonight.
On Sunday, the party’s central committee sacked Mugabe, 93, and his wife Grace, 52, as head of the women’s league. This follows hot on the heels of the vote of no confidence in Mugabe passed by Zanu-PF’s 10 provincial co-ordinating committees (PCC) on Friday. They called on him to step down as president of Zimbabwe and president and first secretary of the party, saying he has lost control of the party and government business due to “incapacitation stemming from his advanced age”.
Zanu-PF also resolved to elect Mnangagwa – who was recently fired as vice president by Mugabe – as the party’s new leader.