Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has defied widespread calls to quit as president, telling the nation he would "preside" over his party’s next congress. This follows his dismissal as ZANU-PF leader by its central committee.
Image: picture alliance/NurPhoto/B. Khaled
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Mugabe, surrounded by military and civilian officials, gave a rambling televised address Sunday evening, telling Zimbabweans they should respect 1980 independence war veterans and reconcile "inter-generational" differences.
The Central Committee of his ruling ZANU-PF party had earlier ousted him as party leader and given him until noon Monday to end his 37-year-long reign as head of state or face impeachment.
However, Mugabe made no references in his speech of his party's moves to dismiss him. Instead, he said he acknowledged what he termed "a whole range of concerns" raised in a "spirit of honesty" by elements of Zimbabwe’s security forces during the past week’s military intervention.
Staying put amidst generals and civilian officialsImage: Getty Images/AFP/Str
'Failures' acknowledged
Failures of the past had triggered anger "in some quarters," Mugabe said, adding that these were "quite understandable."
Mugabe said he had just emerged from a meeting with commanders facilitated by mediators of the Catholic Church, adding that the past week's military intervention "did not amount to a threat."
He claimed Zimbabwe was heading for a "promising agricultural season" and said the nation should get "refocused."
Tens of thousands of people had poured into the streets of Harare on Saturday to demand that Mugabe step aside after overseeing the once-prosperous country's economic collapse.
However, Mugabe's refusal to step down left Zimbabweans dumbstruck. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai told Reuters that he and the whole nation had been left "baffled," before accusing the 93-year-old president of having "let the whole nation down."
Zimbabweans also reacted with bafflement on Twitter with constitutional lawyer Fadzayi Mahere tweeting: "A coup that's not a coup. A resignation that's not a resignation. Reality in Zimbabwe isn't real here."
The coup that wasn't
Generals took over last Tuesday after it emerged that President Mugabe had fired Mnangawa and was set to install his highly unpopular wife, Grace, in the position. Mugabe was put under house arrest while refusing to step down as president after initial talks with the army.
With many jubilant at the end of repressive and economically disastrous Mugabe era, there are concerns that the military takeover last week will not herald a period of change, but rather, will continue the status quo.
By refusing the acknowledge that events amounted to a coup d'etat, the military appears to be trying to avoid triggering an automatic expulsion from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union.
Is Mugabe dragging out talks?Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/Zimbabwe Herald
Next move: impeachment?
According to Chris Mutsvangwa, leader of the liberation war veterans who have been pushing for Mugabe's ouster for the best part of 18 months, parliament will move to impeach the president when it next sits on Tuesday.
He also implied that Mugabe simply had not been aware when he gave his speech that his ZANU-PF party had expelled him hours earlier.
Mutsvangwa said that "either somebody within ZANU-PF didn't tell him what had happened within his own party, so he went and addressed that meeting oblivious, or (he was) blind or deaf to what his party has told him."
Similar threats of impeachment were made by the ruling party's chief whip, Lovemore Matuke. While Mugabe's refusal to resign had come as a surprise, Matuke said he didn't see it as an obstacle to the president's impending impeachment.
"We had understood that his resignation was coming to avoid the embarrassment of impeachment," Matuke said. "The army is taking its own route, and as politicians we are taking our own route, but the ultimate goal is to make sure he goes, which he should have done tonight."
The week that changed Zimbabwe
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was removed as the ZANU-PF party's leader after holding the post for 37 years. The party’s youth league, the military and his supporters also withdrew from backing Mugabe.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/B.Curtis
Mnangagwa, Grace Mugabe go head to head
In November 2018, Robert Mugabe dismissed his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, after accusing him of "plotting a coup against the government." Some Zimbabweans feared Mugabe was grooming his wife, Grace Mugabe, to take over in the event of his death.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Njikizana
Chiwenga's warning
On November 13, 2017, General Constantino Chiwenga, commander of Zimbabwe's Defense Force, warned that the army could "step in" to save the country from political tension and economic crisis.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Njikizana
Tanks in Harare
Military and armored vehicles were seen at the outskirts of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, on November 14, 2017. On the same day, the military also took over the state-run broadcaster ZBC.
Image: Reuters/P. Bulawayo
Mugabe safe in army hands
On November 15, 2017, Major General SB Moyo, the military spokesman, announced on the ZBC that Mugabe and his family were "safe and sound and their security was guaranteed." He said the military was targeting "criminals around" Mugabe who were "committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering."
Image: Reuters/ZBC
A 'smiling' Mugabe meets Chiwenga
On November 16, 2017, General Constantino Chiwenga, along with other officials, was seen in military uniform meeting President Robert Mugabe (C) at the State House. It was reported that Mugabe was smiling as they both shook hands. However, the leaders of ZANU-PF announced that there was "no going back."
Image: Reuters/Zimpapers/J. Nyadzayo
Mugabe puts in a public appearance
After being placed under house arrest, Mugabe appeared publicly at a university graduation ceremony on November 17, 2017. Here, a military officer adjusts a chair for Mugabe, who is dressed in a blue-and-yellow academic gown, to sit on after arriving to preside over the ceremony. Mugabe, who was reportedly tired, was then caught falling asleep.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/B. Curtis
Zimbabweans call on Mugabe to go
On November 18, 2017, residents of the capital, Harare, held a protest with anti-Mugabe placards demanding the president's resignation. Veterans of the independence war, activists and ruling party leaders called publicly for Mugabe to be forced from office.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Z. Auntony
Mugabe ousted from ZANU-PF leadership
Zimbabwean War Veterans leader Chris Mutsvangwa (R) arrived at a meeting of the ruling ZANU-PF party in Harare November 19, 2017. After hours of deliberation, the party announced that it had decided to fire Mugabe as leader of the party.
Image: Reuters/P. Bulawayo
Mugabe does not step down
Many expected that after being recalled as ZANU-PF party leader, President Mugabe would use his address to the nation resign with dignity. Zimbabweans were left shocked after the rambling speech made no reference to him stepping down. Mugabe now faces impeachment, with proceedings believed to be starting on Tuesday.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Str
End of an era
Rather than face impeachment proceedings, Robert Mugabe prompted dancing in the streets of Harare when he resigned on November 22. "My decision to resign is voluntary on my part and arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire for a smooth, non-violent transfer of power," the 93-year-old said in a letter.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/T. Mukwazhi
Euphoria in Harare
Supporters of Emmerson Mnangagwa celebrate the end of four decades under Mugabe. Mnangagwa was joined by cheering crowds after he returned to Zimbabwe from exile in neighboring South Africa. He is expected to be sworn in on November 24.
