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Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe vows to stay on despite army pressure | Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe vows to stay on despite army pressure |
(35 minutes later) | |
Zimbabwe's embattled leader Robert Mugabe has vowed to stay in power for several weeks, despite intense pressure on him to stand down now. | Zimbabwe's embattled leader Robert Mugabe has vowed to stay in power for several weeks, despite intense pressure on him to stand down now. |
In a live TV address, Mr Mugabe said he would preside over the ruling party's congress in December. | In a live TV address, Mr Mugabe said he would preside over the ruling party's congress in December. |
The Zanu-PF earlier sacked him as party leader, and gave him less than 24 hours to resign as president or be impeached. | The Zanu-PF earlier sacked him as party leader, and gave him less than 24 hours to resign as president or be impeached. |
His grip on power has weakened since the military intervened on Wednesday, in a row over who should succeed him. | His grip on power has weakened since the military intervened on Wednesday, in a row over who should succeed him. |
The crisis began when the 93-year-old president sacked his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, two weeks ago, angering army commanders who saw it as an attempt to position his wife as his successor. | |
Earlier on Sunday, Mr Mnangagwa was named as Zanu-PF's new leader and candidate for the 2018 general elections. | Earlier on Sunday, Mr Mnangagwa was named as Zanu-PF's new leader and candidate for the 2018 general elections. |
At the same party meeting, Mr Mugabe's 52-year-old wife, Grace, was expelled from the party, alongside a number of other senior officials. | At the same party meeting, Mr Mugabe's 52-year-old wife, Grace, was expelled from the party, alongside a number of other senior officials. |
But in his speech later in the day, Mr Mugabe made no direct mention of those developments. | |
"The (ruling Zanu-PF) party congress is due in a few weeks and I will preside over its processes," he told the nation, flanked by senior military generals at his official residence in Harare. | |
He acknowledged criticism against him from Zanu-PF, the military and public, and stressed the need to return Zimbabwe to normalcy. | |
"Whatever the pros and cons of how they (the army) went about their operation, I, as commander-in-chief, do acknowledge their concerns," he said, in reference to the army's move last week to take over the state broadcaster. | "Whatever the pros and cons of how they (the army) went about their operation, I, as commander-in-chief, do acknowledge their concerns," he said, in reference to the army's move last week to take over the state broadcaster. |
Neither did he mention any possibility of resigning. Tens of thousands had joined huge demonstrations on Saturday, with many believing he was about to step down. | |
It is not entirely clear how Robert Mugabe can preside over Zanu-PF's congress next month, following his dismissal as party leader. | It is not entirely clear how Robert Mugabe can preside over Zanu-PF's congress next month, following his dismissal as party leader. |
Party positions are officially decided at the congress and Emmerson Mnangagwa may officially take over leading the country then. | Party positions are officially decided at the congress and Emmerson Mnangagwa may officially take over leading the country then. |
The head of the influential War Veterans Association, which used to back Mr Mugabe but now demands his resignation, told AFP they would call for further protests. | |
"That speech has nothing to do with realities. We will go for impeachment and we are calling people back to the streets," said Chris Mutsvangwa. | |
Zanu-PF has given Mr Mugabe until midday local time (10:00 GMT) on Monday to resign or else face impeachment proceedings. | |
Impeaching the president would require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Zimbabwe's parliament, which is due to resume on Tuesday. | |
The opposition MDC-T party has tried unsuccessfully to impeach Mr Mugabe in the past, but this time the ruling party - which has an overwhelming majority in both houses - is likely to go against him. | |
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he was "baffled" by the president's address. | |
"He's playing a game. He has let the whole nation down," he told Reuters news agency. |