Sources say only five Zimbabwe cabinet ministers and the
attorney-general turned up for a meeting called by President Robert
Mugabe as 17 others opted to attend a meeting to plan the
93-year-old leader’s impeachment.
Sources said on Tuesday that the meeting is the first called by
Mugabe since a military takeover on Nov. 15.
Mugabe faced the start of an impeachment process later in the
day as his party sought to end his nearly four decades in
power.
ZANU-PF plans to bring the motion in parliament after a Monday
noon deadline expired for the 93-year-old leader to step down to
end nearly four decades in power.
Mugabe led the country’s liberation war and has ruled since
independence in 1980 but is seeing the swift erosion of his
power.
He has won a series of elections but is viewed by many in Africa
and beyond as a leader who has crippled his country by holding on
to power too long.
Mugabe has shown no sign of resigning.
He has called for the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, which
would be the first time ministers meet him since the Nov. 15
military takeover dubbed “Operation Restore Legacy”.
Zimbabwe’s information minister said on Tuesday he did not know
if ministers would attend the cabinet meeting.
“The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my
appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion
call … to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve
his legacy,” Mnangagwa said in a statement.
The army seized power because Mugabe sacked Mnangagwa to smooth
a path to the presidency for his wife Grace, who is unpopular with
many Zimbabweans.
Reuters reported in September that Mnangagwa was plotting to
succeed Mugabe with army backing at the helm of a broad
coalition.
The plot posited an interim national unity government that would
have the blessing of much of the international community and allow
for Zimbabwe’s re-engagement with the outside world.
Its primary aim was to stabilize its economy.
The former vice president was a key lieutenant to Mugabe for
decades and stands accused of participating in repression against
Zimbabweans who challenged the leader.
Mnangagwa said he has fled Zimbabwe because of a threat to his
life after being purged from the ruling party.
He said he had been in contact with Mugabe and invited to return
but would not do so until his security could be guaranteed.
“I told the President that I would not return home now until I
am satisfied of my personal security, because of the manner and
treatment given to me upon being fired,” he said in a
statement.
Mnangagwa said on Tuesday his desire was to join all Zimbabweans
in a “new era” that would rebuild the economy for the benefit of
all.
Zimbabwe’s top general said on Monday that the army’s
intervention was progressing well.
In the draft impeachment motion, ZANU-PF – which expelled Mugabe
from the party on Sunday – accused him of being a “source of
instability”, flouting the rule of law and presiding over an
“unprecedented economic tailspin” in the last 15 years.
It also said Mugabe had abused his constitutional mandate to
favor his wife Grace.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Harare
to celebrate the impending downfall of Mugabe, accused by critics
of retaining power through terror and election-rigging and of
running a once-vibrant economy into the ground.
They expected him to resign within hours. Instead Mugabe dashed
their hopes with a bizarre and rambling televised address on Sunday
night in which he made no mention of his own fate.
Mugabe has been confined to his lavish “Blue Roof” residence in
Harare, apart from two trips to State House to meet the generals
and one to a university graduation ceremony at which he appeared to
fall asleep.
Grace, known as “Gucci Grace” for her alleged fondness for
extravagant shopping sprees, and at least two senior members of her
“G40” political faction are believed to be holed up in the same
compound.
Her stark reversal of fortune was underscored on Monday when the
state-run Herald newspaper – which in August proclaimed her “A
loving mother of the nation” – ran a piece headlined “Youth League
slams ‘uncultured’ First Lady.”
“Grace Mugabe lacked grooming and true motherhood as shown by
her foul language,” the paper quoted the ZANU-PF’s youth wing as
saying.
(NAN)
Sources say only five Zimbabwe cabinet ministers and the
attorney-general turned up for a meeting called by President Robert
Mugabe as 17 others opted to attend a meeting to plan the
93-year-old leader’s impeachment.
Sources said on Tuesday that the meeting is the first called by
Mugabe since a military takeover on Nov. 15.
Mugabe faced the start of an impeachment process later in the
day as his party sought to end his nearly four decades in
power.
ZANU-PF plans to bring the motion in parliament after a Monday
noon deadline expired for the 93-year-old leader to step down to
end nearly four decades in power.
Mugabe led the country’s liberation war and has ruled since
independence in 1980 but is seeing the swift erosion of his
power.
He has won a series of elections but is viewed by many in Africa
and beyond as a leader who has crippled his country by holding on
to power too long.
Mugabe has shown no sign of resigning.
He has called for the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, which
would be the first time ministers meet him since the Nov. 15
military takeover dubbed “Operation Restore Legacy”.
Zimbabwe’s information minister said on Tuesday he did not know
if ministers would attend the cabinet meeting.
“The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my
appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion
call … to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve
his legacy,” Mnangagwa said in a statement.
The army seized power because Mugabe sacked Mnangagwa to smooth
a path to the presidency for his wife Grace, who is unpopular with
many Zimbabweans.
Reuters reported in September that Mnangagwa was plotting to
succeed Mugabe with army backing at the helm of a broad
coalition.
The plot posited an interim national unity government that would
have the blessing of much of the international community and allow
for Zimbabwe’s re-engagement with the outside world.
Its primary aim was to stabilize its economy.
The former vice president was a key lieutenant to Mugabe for
decades and stands accused of participating in repression against
Zimbabweans who challenged the leader.
Mnangagwa said he has fled Zimbabwe because of a threat to his
life after being purged from the ruling party.
He said he had been in contact with Mugabe and invited to return
but would not do so until his security could be guaranteed.
“I told the President that I would not return home now until I
am satisfied of my personal security, because of the manner and
treatment given to me upon being fired,” he said in a
statement.
Mnangagwa said on Tuesday his desire was to join all Zimbabweans
in a “new era” that would rebuild the economy for the benefit of
all.
Zimbabwe’s top general said on Monday that the army’s
intervention was progressing well.
In the draft impeachment motion, ZANU-PF – which expelled Mugabe
from the party on Sunday – accused him of being a “source of
instability”, flouting the rule of law and presiding over an
“unprecedented economic tailspin” in the last 15 years.
It also said Mugabe had abused his constitutional mandate to
favor his wife Grace.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Harare
to celebrate the impending downfall of Mugabe, accused by critics
of retaining power through terror and election-rigging and of
running a once-vibrant economy into the ground.
They expected him to resign within hours. Instead Mugabe dashed
their hopes with a bizarre and rambling televised address on Sunday
night in which he made no mention of his own fate.
Mugabe has been confined to his lavish “Blue Roof” residence in
Harare, apart from two trips to State House to meet the generals
and one to a university graduation ceremony at which he appeared to
fall asleep.
Grace, known as “Gucci Grace” for her alleged fondness for
extravagant shopping sprees, and at least two senior members of her
“G40” political faction are believed to be holed up in the same
compound.
Her stark reversal of fortune was underscored on Monday when the
state-run Herald newspaper – which in August proclaimed her “A
loving mother of the nation” – ran a piece headlined “Youth League
slams ‘uncultured’ First Lady.”
“Grace Mugabe lacked grooming and true motherhood as shown by
her foul language,” the paper quoted the ZANU-PF’s youth wing as
saying.
(NAN)