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Robert Mugabe Swaps House Arrest for a Cap and Gown (Briefly) Robert Mugabe Swaps House Arrest for a Cap and Gown (Briefly)
(35 minutes later)
HARARE, Zimbabwe — It may not be part of the traditional playbook of African coups d’état for the supposedly deposed ruler to be freed, if only temporarily, to address a university graduation ceremony.HARARE, Zimbabwe — It may not be part of the traditional playbook of African coups d’état for the supposedly deposed ruler to be freed, if only temporarily, to address a university graduation ceremony.
But that is what happened in Zimbabwe on Friday, the third day after the military moved against President Robert Mugabe — an illustration, perhaps, that this is no ordinary attempt to oust a despot. But that is what happened in Zimbabwe on Friday, when President Robert Mugabe made his first public appearance since the military placed him under house arrest — an illustration, perhaps, that this is no ordinary attempt to oust a despot.
Mr. Mugabe, 93, is Africa’s oldest leader. He has dominated his country since independence from Britain 37 years ago, surviving through a blend of cunning, brutality, manipulation and patronage dispensed among a corrupt elite.Mr. Mugabe, 93, is Africa’s oldest leader. He has dominated his country since independence from Britain 37 years ago, surviving through a blend of cunning, brutality, manipulation and patronage dispensed among a corrupt elite.
He was detained early Wednesday by senior military commanders who denied having mounted a coup. Instead, the commanders started negotiations with Mr. Mugabe, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and South African mediators. Those days “are numbered,” though, said Chris Mutsvangwa, the leader of Zimbabwe’s influential war veterans’ movement, which was founded to represent those who fought in the seven-year liberation war in the 1970s but has emerged as a powerful political force.
At a news conference, Mr. Mutsvangwa cranked up pressure on Mr. Mugabe, saying the longtime leader would face huge calls for his ouster at a rally on Saturday.
Mr. Mugabe was detained early Wednesday by senior military commanders who denied having mounted a coup. Instead, the commanders started negotiations with Mr. Mugabe, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and South African mediators. Mr. Mutsvangwa called the commanders’ actions a “judicious military intervention.”
The talks are intended to devise some form of transition that would have the appearance of constitutional legitimacy while providing a decorous departure for a leader whose role in the pre-independence liberation struggle is central to the national narrative.The talks are intended to devise some form of transition that would have the appearance of constitutional legitimacy while providing a decorous departure for a leader whose role in the pre-independence liberation struggle is central to the national narrative.
Outside the main cities, however, the military set up roadblocks on main highways, apparently to thwart any attempt at organized resistance. Buses traveling from Bulawayo, the second city, to Harare, the capital, were pulled over and boarded by soldiers who checked documents and asked passengers about their business. Sometimes, travelers reported, the soldiers ordered passengers off the buses for inspection. Some were asked if they were carrying weapons.Outside the main cities, however, the military set up roadblocks on main highways, apparently to thwart any attempt at organized resistance. Buses traveling from Bulawayo, the second city, to Harare, the capital, were pulled over and boarded by soldiers who checked documents and asked passengers about their business. Sometimes, travelers reported, the soldiers ordered passengers off the buses for inspection. Some were asked if they were carrying weapons.
Such was the official concern to maintain an appearance of normalcy that the state broadcaster devoted the first 10 minutes of its news bulletin on Thursday to interviews with people across the land — traders in Bulawayo, tourists at Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River — and, as if scripted, all repeated the same refrain: “It’s business as usual.” Mr. Mugabe’s appearance at the graduation ceremony — however surreal — seemed to be part of the same stratagem.Such was the official concern to maintain an appearance of normalcy that the state broadcaster devoted the first 10 minutes of its news bulletin on Thursday to interviews with people across the land — traders in Bulawayo, tourists at Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River — and, as if scripted, all repeated the same refrain: “It’s business as usual.” Mr. Mugabe’s appearance at the graduation ceremony — however surreal — seemed to be part of the same stratagem.
Some Zimbabweans suggested that the calculation might offer Mr. Mugabe a chance to play hardball when setting out his terms in the closed-door negotiations. Some Zimbabweans suggested that the officers’ calculation might offer Mr. Mugabe a chance to play hardball when setting out his terms in the closed-door negotiations.
In the annals of Africa’s many uprisings and coups, the script often involves the ousted strongman fleeing into exile, being shot to death or getting thrown in prison.In the annals of Africa’s many uprisings and coups, the script often involves the ousted strongman fleeing into exile, being shot to death or getting thrown in prison.
Instead, Zimbabwe’s military allowed Mr. Mugabe on Thursday to return to State House, his official residence, and on Friday, he appeared in a bright blue cap and gown, under tight security, to oversee the graduation ceremony in Harare. Instead, Zimbabwe’s military allowed Mr. Mugabe to return to State House, his official residence, and on Friday, he appeared in a bright blue cap and gown, under tight security, to oversee the graduation ceremony in Harare. At one point, he appeared to doze, his head lolling.
In 2014, he conferred a rapidly acquired doctorate on Grace Mugabe, his wife, whose ferocious ambition to replace her husband as president is seen by most analysts as a prime cause for the military action.In 2014, he conferred a rapidly acquired doctorate on Grace Mugabe, his wife, whose ferocious ambition to replace her husband as president is seen by most analysts as a prime cause for the military action.
By appearing at the ceremony, Mr. Mugabe wanted to give “the impression that he is still in charge,” Mr. Mutsvangwa said. “He is finished.”
Less visible on Friday, Zimbabwean reporters said, were plans for huge rallies on Saturday to thank Mr. Mugabe for services rendered to the nation and to urge him to step down. Those calls may well be reinforced by moves among provincial committees of Mr. Mugabe’s powerful ZANU-PF political party to expel him, his wife and her followers in the so-called G-40 movement. The intention is apparently to display a broad, but legal, rejection of Mr. Mugabe, his wife and the coterie around them.Less visible on Friday, Zimbabwean reporters said, were plans for huge rallies on Saturday to thank Mr. Mugabe for services rendered to the nation and to urge him to step down. Those calls may well be reinforced by moves among provincial committees of Mr. Mugabe’s powerful ZANU-PF political party to expel him, his wife and her followers in the so-called G-40 movement. The intention is apparently to display a broad, but legal, rejection of Mr. Mugabe, his wife and the coterie around them.
The person most often spoken of as a likely successor is Emmerson Mnangagwa, a longtime Mugabe loyalist who fled the country last week after Mr. Mugabe stripped him of the vice presidency. That move was interpreted as Mr. Mugabe’s trying to clear the way for his wife to assume more power. At his news conference, Mr. Mutsvangwa said several key regions in Zimbabwe’s Shona-speaking heartlands — the base of ZANU-PF’s support — had approved calls for his expulsion.
The person most often spoken of as a likely presidential successor is Emmerson Mnangagwa, a longtime Mugabe loyalist who fled the country last week after Mr. Mugabe stripped him of the vice presidency. That move was interpreted as Mr. Mugabe’s trying to clear the way for his wife to assume more power.
Mr. Mutsvangwa is an ally of Mr. Mnangagwa, so his remarks on Friday could be interpreted as part of a broad campaign for the return of the former vice president.
The whereabouts of Mr. Mnangagwa and of Mrs. Mugabe were not clear on Friday.The whereabouts of Mr. Mnangagwa and of Mrs. Mugabe were not clear on Friday.
Mr. Mugabe — in official portrayals at least — has maintained power as an enduring emblem of the fight to expunge colonial influence in Africa. But he has presided over a precipitous economic decline that began with the seizing of white-owned farms starting in 2000. Joblessness has soared and a shortage of foreign currency has driven up the price of imports. At the same time, a loyal elite around him has amassed villas, farms and high-end automobiles. Mr. Mugabe — in official portrayals at least — has maintained power as an enduring emblem of the fight to expunge colonial influence in Africa. But he has presided over a precipitous economic decline that began with the seizing of white-owned farms starting in 2000. Joblessness has soared, and a shortage of foreign currency has driven up the price of imports. At the same time, a loyal elite around him has amassed villas, farms and high-end automobiles.
In a statement on national television, Reuters reported, the military said it was “engaging” with Mr. Mugabe and would publicize the results of talks as soon as possible.In a statement on national television, Reuters reported, the military said it was “engaging” with Mr. Mugabe and would publicize the results of talks as soon as possible.