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Zimbabwe’s ruling party expected to sack Robert Mugabe on Sunday Zimbabwe’s ruling party expected to sack Robert Mugabe on Sunday
(about 4 hours later)
Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party is expected to meet on Sunday to sack Robert Mugabe and reinstate the vice-president he dismissed, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Robert Mugabe’s efforts to cling to power appeared close to collapse on Saturday night as tens of thousands marched through Zimbabwe’s cities calling for his resignation, while the ruling party prepared to dismiss him.
A party central committee meeting scheduled for 8.30am UK time would also dismiss the president’s preferred successor, his wife, Grace, from her role as head of the party’s women’s league, Reuters reported. The 93-year-old president is due on Sunday morning to meet the army commanders who took power last week, a statement broadcast by the state-run TV channel said.
Mugabe’s 37-year rule has in effect been at an end since the army seized control in the early hours of Wednesday, confining him to his residence. The face-to-face encounter is only the second since the military takeover five days ago and will take place as leaders of Zanu-PF convene to endorse a motion demanding that Mugabe resign as president and stripping the party leader of his post of first secretary. Parliament is expected to start impeachment proceedings next week.
Shortly after news of Sunday’s meeting emerged, a convoy left Mugabe’s official residence in Harare to the jeers of onlookers, although it was unclear if he was inside. Sources close to the military said the president had asked a Catholic priest and lifelong friend to act as an intermediary in talks with generals. Mugabe had previously rejected similar offers of mediation, suggesting that he was close to making a significant concession.
Marchers had massed outside his home on Saturday, revelling in their freedom to voice anger at decades of misrule as well as hope for a better future for Zimbabwe. Many waved the national flag, chanting and singing. Some embraced soldiers or posed with them for selfies. The march had been sanctioned by the military. Few options are now open to the autocrat, who has ruled Zimbabwe through a mixture of ­coercion, bribery and revolutionary rhetoric for nearly four decades. Support in some branches of the security establishment – including the police – has evaporated and high-profile political supporters have been detained.
Euphoric crowds filled streets in the capital on Saturday morning and cars honked their horns calling for the veteran leader to step down. On Saturday the streets of Harare were filled with people chanting, singing and waving placards. Many embraced soldiers. The march had the approval of military authorities and will boost the inter­national image of the generals who took control last week.
“These are tears of joy,” said Frank Mutsindikwa, 34, holding aloft the Zimbabwean flag. “I’ve been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last.” However, analysts said the celebrations were also evidence of a huge desire for democracy in Zimbabwe, not just the departure of the world’s oldest leader.The presidential motorcade left Mugabe’s sprawling residence in Harare yesterday evening, booed and jeered by protesters who had gathered outside. A security source told Reuters the president was not in the vehicles.
There were similar scenes in the southern city of Bulawayo, as well as abroad, where diaspora Zimbabweans held their own rallies. Piers Pigou, an expert with the International Crisis Group, said the march was “both an opportunity and a major challenge” for the military and the still dominant Zanu-PF, Mugabe’s political vehicle. “The language being used shows that people were out not just to support Zanu-PF and the army … What we have seen on the streets suggests that ordinary Zimbabweans want an alternative to the centralising, controlling ­narrative,” he said.
In the early afternoon, some headed towards the Zimbabwean president’s sprawling mansion in the wealthy neighbourhood of Borrowdale. The military has said its takeover was to remove “criminals” close to the president, a reference to Grace Mugabe, the first lady, and her G40 ­faction.
They were responding to a call from a leader of the powerful Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. Most observers believe the former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa is likely to take charge when Mugabe finally relinquishes power. Mnangagwa, 75, is a former intelligence chief and ­veteran Zanu-PF official responsible for the repression of opposition parties in elections between 2000 and 2008. He was fired by Mugabe two weeks ago.
“Let us now go and deliver the message that grandfather Mugabe and his typist-cum-wife should go home,” the war veterans’ association secretary general, Victor Matemadanda, told the marchers at a rally. Opposition leaders have called for the formation of an inclusive transitional government but risk being sidelined by the army and Zanu-PF. There are also concerns that the military will maintain significant influence in the future.“The ruling party [has] allowed the military to taste political power [and] … We have to expect some role of the armed forces to continue for some time,” said Martin Rupiya, a former Zimbab­wean army general.
Despite mounting pressure, Mugabe has refused demands to leave office. One senior Zanu-PF official said fears of “praetorian politics” in coming years were justified.
Relatives say the veteran autocrat and his wife are “ready to die for what is correct” and have no intention of stepping down in order to legitimise this week’s military coup.
Speaking to Reuters from a secret location in South Africa, Patrick Zhuwao, Mugabe’s nephew, said on Saturday that his uncle had hardly slept since the military seized power, but his health was otherwise good.
The military and senior officials within the ruling Zanu-PF party now appear set on forcing Mugabe, the only ruler Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980, to step down within 48 hours.
Few options are open to Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe through a mixture of coercion, bribery and revolutionary rhetoric for nearly four decades. Support in some branches of the security establishment – such as the police – has evaporated and many political supporters have been detained.
The march will demonstrate popular support for the takeover and a return to democracy. However, it is moves within Zanu-PF that may prove the decisive factor in forcing Mugabe to step down.
All 10 of the country’s provincial Zanu-PF branches have passed motions of no confidence in the president. These could lead to Mugabe being stripped of office by Sunday, one official told the Guardian.
The state broadcaster ran a headline “Zanu-PF call for Mugabe to step down”, which would have been unthinkable a week ago, underlining the pace of change in the small southern African state.
Earlier on Friday, Mugabe, who had been confined to his residence since the takeover, attended a university graduation ceremony on the outskirts of Harare.
Clad in academic gown and hat, he walked slowly in a procession on a red carpet to a podium as a marching band played. He was applauded as he announced the opening of the ceremony.
On Friday morning an army statement describing “significant progress” was broadcast on national television and published by state-run media. The statement appeared to have been aimed at quelling growing concerns that the military takeover could descend into chaos.
Saturday’s march was organised by the powerful associations representing veterans of the former British colony’s liberation wars.
At a press conference on Friday, Chris Mutsvangwa, a leader of Zimbabwe’s war veterans, said the president would not be allowed to remain in power.
“We are giving a very stark warning to Mugabe, his wife and anyone who wants to be associated with him that the game is up, finished,” Mutsvangwa said, to applause from the audience of journalists.
The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, said the military takeover resonated “with the national public sentiments and [was] hence irreversible in effect and fact”.
Dumiso Dabengwa, a former home affairs minister and liberation war veteran, congratulated the military on “the initiative they took to block the rise” of Grace Mugabe, 52.
“Ninety-nine percent of people want Mugabe to go. He is no longer in charge … Grace is in charge and Zimbabweans cannot fold their arms and let a character of that nature to lead. She had to be stopped,” Dabengwa told reporters in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Robert Mugabe fires his powerful vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, clearing the way for his wife, Grace, to succeed him as leader of Zimbabwe. Grace had accused 75-year-old Mnangagwa, a former intelligence chief, of being the “root cause of factionalism” in the ruling Zanu-PF party. Robert Mugabe fires his powerful vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, clearing the way for his wife, Grace, to succeed him as leader of Zimbabwe. Grace had accused 75-year-old Mnangagwa, a former intelligence chief, of being the “root cause of factionalism” in the ruling Zanu-PF party. 
Mnangagwa reportedly flees to South Africa, but vows to return to Zimbabwe to lead party members. The party "is not personal property for you and your wife to do as you please," Mnangagwa tells Mugabe in an angry five-page statement.Mnangagwa reportedly flees to South Africa, but vows to return to Zimbabwe to lead party members. The party "is not personal property for you and your wife to do as you please," Mnangagwa tells Mugabe in an angry five-page statement.
Zimbabwe’s army chief demands a halt to the purge in Zanu-PF, and warns that the military could intervene. “We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in,” General Constantino Chiwenga told a media conference attended by about 90 senior army officers.Zimbabwe’s army chief demands a halt to the purge in Zanu-PF, and warns that the military could intervene. “We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in,” General Constantino Chiwenga told a media conference attended by about 90 senior army officers.
A convoy of tanks is seen moving on the outskirts of the Zimbabwean capital but the military denies a coup. In an overnight declaration on state television, they say Mugabe is safe and they are "only targeting criminals around him".A convoy of tanks is seen moving on the outskirts of the Zimbabwean capital but the military denies a coup. In an overnight declaration on state television, they say Mugabe is safe and they are "only targeting criminals around him".
Military vehicles take control of the streets of Harare in the early hours. South Africa says Mugabe has told its president, Jacob Zuma, by telephone that he is under house arrest but is "fine".Military vehicles take control of the streets of Harare in the early hours. South Africa says Mugabe has told its president, Jacob Zuma, by telephone that he is under house arrest but is "fine".
Since taking power, the military has arrested about a dozen senior officials and leading members of the G40, a faction of Zanu-PF who are loyal to the first lady. Since taking power, the military has arrested about a dozen senior officials and ministers loyal to Grace Mugabe, 52. She has not been seen since the take­over. Sources said she was in her husband’s Harare residence when he was detained and has not left. Zanu-PF branches in all 10 provinces called on Friday for Mugabe to be recalled as first secretary of the party.
Grace Mugabe has not been seen since the takeover. Sources told the Guardian she was in her husband’s Harare residence when he was detained on Tuesday. The motions also called for Grace Mugabe to be stripped of her post chairing the Zanu-PF women’s league. She is a divisive figure who has outraged many with her extravagance, violent outbursts and political ambitions. Mugabe could theoretically continue as president, even if he were no longer leader of Zanu-PF, but this would be difficult in practice, party insiders said.
The takeover is thought to have been prompted in part by fears among the military and its allies within the ruling party of an imminent purge of rivals of the president’s wife, which would allow her to exercise greater power. Relatives said he and Grace were “ready to die for what is correct” and had no intention of stepping down to legitimise the military coup. ­Speaking to Reuters from a secret ­location in South Africa, Patrick Zhuwao, Mugabe’s nephew, said on Saturday that his uncle had hardly slept since the ­military ­take­over, but his health was ­otherwise good.
The army has said the takeover was a temporary measure to target “criminals” around Mugabe, resolving a succession battle that has pitted Grace Mugabe against Mnangagwa. The coup is thought to have been prompted in part by fears among the military and its allies in the ruling party of an imminent purge of Grace Mugabe’s rivals that would have allowed her to exercise greater power. Zimbabweans abroad demonstrated against their president yesterday. Hundreds in Britain gathered outside the embassy in London calling on Mugabe to step aside. Similar rallies were held in South Africa and Namibia.
Mnangagwa was reported to have returned to Zimbabwe from South Africa, where he fled last week after being stripped of his office by the president as part of the apparent purge. Mugabe’s downfall is likely to send shockwaves across Africa, where a number of entrenched autocratic leaders, from Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Joseph Kabila, are facing pressure to step aside.
Opposition officials told the Guardian they believed there would eventually be a deal allowing Mnangagwa to be appointed president, leading a transitional government that would include senior opposition leaders in top posts. The failure of regional powers to explicitly support the military inter­vention has angered many in Zimbabwe. South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, said yesterday the continent was committed to supporting “the people of Zimbabwe”.
Associates of the first lady detained during the takeover would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, the officials said.
There was no independent confirmation of the opposition claims, which one analyst described as optimistic, though negotiations are clearly taking place between multiple political actors.
Other possibilities are Mugabe staying on as president until a Zanu-PF conference scheduled for December, or even until elections due in mid-2018.
The massive popular anger towards the leader displayed at Saturday’s march makes that unlikely, however.
There is also frustration in Zimbabwe at the lack of explicit support for the military takeover from South Africa, the biggest regional power, the Southern African Development Community regional bloc and the African Union.
Ian Khama, the president of neighbouring Botswana, said on Friday that the military intervention was “an opportunity to put Zimbabwe on a path to peace and prosperity”.
He said: “I don’t think anyone should be president for that amount of time. We are presidents, we are not monarchs. It’s just common sense.”
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If you’re in Zimbabwe, or are a Zimbabwean national and would like to share your thoughts on the political situation, you can do so here.If you’re in Zimbabwe, or are a Zimbabwean national and would like to share your thoughts on the political situation, you can do so here.