Culled from Nigerian Tribune
Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe, may have come to the end of his tethers as the country’s army may overthrow his administration tomorrow, even as his political party, Zanu-PF, planned to impeach him by Tuesday, next week.
Though army carried out a coup on Tuesday night, which it described as a “bloodless takeover” against one of the African longest ruling leaders, the fate of Mugabe still hangs in the balance, even as he was seen attending a graduation ceremony in Harare on Friday, after the military allowed him out of house arrest from the State House.
According to the UK-based Daily Express, Zanu-PF officials are making plans to dismiss and impeach the embattled Zimbabwean leader and call for his overthrow, should he refused to quit.
In what could be likened to an all-front war against Mugabe, all the 10 provinces held by hiss political party, on Friday, passed a vote of no confidence on him and ordered him to step down as the leader by tomorrow.
The development which was described as a huge blow to him, even as the US Government may have backed the military intervention by calling for “a quick return to civilian rule”.
Calling the recent events in Zimbabwe “a concern”, the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, reportedly told African foreign ministers ahead of a meeting in Washington that the country “has an opportunity to set itself on a new path, one that must include democratic elections and respect for human rights.”
However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has called for a peaceful and legal resolution of the budding crisis in Zimbabwe as the ministry’s spokesperson, Geng Shuang told newsmen on Friday that “China calls on all sides in Zimbabwe to keep their eyes on the country’s long-term and fundamental interests and uphold dialogue and consultations to bridge differences, to promote a peaceful and appropriate resolution to the issue under a legal framework.”
As at 2:17pm same day, the Zimbabwean police granted permission the country’s influential war veteran group to hold a rally in Harare tomorrow, while locals were expected to gather at Freedom Square in the capital to demonstrate against President Mugabe.
A poster circulating on the social media reads: “We demand a leadership that will relieve us of the suffering we have endured for too long” as Mugabe’s deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa who many saw as the favorite to take over, was described as a no democrat and “just an extension of Robert Mugabe”.
Daily Express also reported that the Zimbabwe parliament planned to impeach Mugabe on Tuesday, adding: “The plan of anti-Mugabe forces is to have Mugabe impeached when Parliament sits on Tuesday.”
While there was a hint that Mugabe can dissolve the Parliament to forestall his impeachment, a former Deputy Prime Minister of the country, Arthur Mutambara, insisted on the removal of Mugabe.
Mutambara tweeted: “All this must lead to impeachment by Parliament; a political process driven by parties with political representation in Parliament. This route requires leadership, organisation and cross-party cooperation rooted on clarity on the long term agenda and vision. It can be done.”
Further tightening the rope on Mugabe’s neck, President Ian Khama of Botswana, has called on him to relinquish power, advising him to ‘end his attempts to remain in office after the military seized power as he has no regional diplomatic support to stay in power’.
Speaking with Reuters, Khama said the military intervention, which may pave the way to a national unity government after 37 years of Mugabe rule, also presented “an opportunity to put Zimbabwe on a path to peace and prosperity. 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.”
An anti-Mugabe rally is scheduled to take place in Harare today to call on the people to rise up and “demand a leadership that will relieve us of the suffering we have endured for too long.”
According to Trevor Ncube, a Zimbabwean newspaper publisher, “Zimbabweans are preparing to take to streets tomorrow (today) to express themselves over the current political stand-off between Mugabe and the military.”
Also the leader of the Zimbabwean’s influential war veterans, Chris Mutsvanga, said Robert Mugabe would not be allowed to resist the military and remain in power, adding that the veterans saluted the army for the military intervention, earlier in the week.
Preparatory to the planned removal of Mugabe, officials of the ruling Zanu-PF party met on Friday to draft a resolution to dismiss the 93-year-old at the weekend and lay the ground for his impeachment next week if he refuses to stand down.
A senior party source insisted that “There is no going back. If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday. When that is done, it’s impeachment on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, the crisis may have taken its toll on Mugabe as the embattled 93-year-old Zimbabwean president was seen sleeping at the graduation ceremony, his first public appearance since the military coup, earlier in the week.
The president, who got to the venue of the event at 11am, left the ceremony at 12pm, even as the Head of Reuters, Africa Bureau, Ed Cropley, tweeted: “Mugabe appears to have fallen asleep at uni ceremony – or “resting his eyes”, as his spokesman likes to say.”
Dressed in a blue and yellow academic gown and mortar board hat, the 93-year-old was greeted by ululations from the crowd as he declared the ceremony open.
Meanwhile, Mugabe was said to have “changed the goal posts” on a deal that was made regarding his imminent resignation, as he was said to now wanted to step down as party leader in December, before retiring from his political duties next year.
“This should not surprise anyone. It is typical Mugabe behavior. The deal had been agreed on, only waiting for Mugabe’s signature, but Robert Mugabe is now refusing to sign it making reference to constitutional obligations.
“He is now demanding that he be allowed to be party president until December and state president until next year. The Military has given a firm ‘No’ and have told him they will now escalate the standoff,” said Hopewell Chin’ono, a journalist.
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