Mugabe could be fired by Sunday if he resists party pressure to quit – report

A senior party source has told Reuters that Mugabe could be fired at the weekend if he resisted the army and Zanu-PF’s admonish for him to resign.

According to Reuters Mugabe has been given his marching orders and despite there being negotiations for him to relinquish power, he does not have much decision making power.

“If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday,” the source said. “When that is done, it’s impeachment on Tuesday.”

“There is no going back. It’s like a match delayed by heavy rain, with the home side leading 90-0 in the 89th minute,” the source said to Reuters.

Meanwhile Botswana’s president, Ian Khama says it is time for his counterpart to go.

Khama said that Mugabe did not have any supporters in the regional bloc of countries and it was now pertinent for him to step down.

Earlier

As the political quagmire in Zimbabwe drags on, without regular, credible updates from the Harare government on the mediation processes underway, thousands – if not millions – of Zimbabweans living in neighbouring South Africa are itching for information, clutching at every update, although the majority of the information soon turns out to be “fake news”.

Tweets about #Zimbabwe #Mugabe

“When I heard the news of the military taking over, I was in cloud nine because it is the moment that will change our lives for the better. A moment that will allow us to vote for a new president other than Mugabe. A moment that will stabilize our economy,” said Fredrick Mbiri (pictured), who has called Pretoria home since 2006.

“I can’t wait for transitional government of all parties on board with one mission – to build a new Zimbabwe for all.”

Mbiri, now working as a salesman at a busy mall in Pretoria east, said surviving in South Africa as an immigrant is no childs play.

“Things have never been easy for me as I am struggling to meet my needs and that the needs of my family. As a foreigner, you face a lot of challenges that at times you have nowhere to report them, fearing to be victimised by police and locals,” he said.

Apart from his day job, Mbiri also runs his House of Hope-Ithemba non-profit organisation, which helps fellow Zimbabweans with challenges, including labour disputes, repatriation and documentation.

Like other Zimbabweans in South Africa, Mbiri is not holding his breath regarding the Southern Africa Development Community intervening in Zimbabwe.

“Personally, I don’t need them to intervene because they have failed in other SADC countries, so what good can they bring to Zimbabwe? If they have to intervene they should think of the masses, not only President Mugabe,” he said.

On his meagre salary as a salesman, Mbiri has to feed a family of 13, and he said sometimes he goes for months without sending anything back home because of economic hardships here as well.

Samuel Mungadze, a Zimbabwean journalist based in Johannesburg, said in the past few days Zimbabweans based in South Africa have become the biggest consumers of news.

“Zimbabweans are anxious for correct details on latest developments back home. The anxiety has been exacerbated by lack of credible sources of news. We have senior journalists tweeting things that turn to be wrong a few hours later,” said Mungadze.

“This problem is also as result of undeveloped media space in Zimbabwe, there is a lot of fear to report on issues fairly and honestly due to unprogressive media laws.”

In Harare, the situation is said to be “business as usual”, despite the presence of armed soldiers on highways and in city centres.

The limbo amongst Zimbabweans at home and abroad shot through the roof on Friday when a seemingly defiant Mugabe arrived to officiate at a graduation ceremony at the Zimbabwe Open University in Harare – where he is Chancellor.

This was the 93-year-old’s first appearance since the military took control of the small southern African landlocked nation which has been ruled by Mugabe for the past 37 years.

A reporter at the State-owned Zimpapers, Kuda Bwititi, said in Harare the rumour-mill has gone into overdrive.

“In Harare people are mostly relying on social media. WhatsApp messages on the issue, mostly false or unverified have become the order of the day.  Those who follow newspapers remain loyal to either public media or private media, depending on which publications they traditionally follow,” said Bwititi.

“The national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe  Broadcasting Corporation has not been giving regular updates since General SB Moyo issued that statement [announcing the military intervention] but it remains the most credible source.”

– ANA

Earlier:

Mugabe makes defiant appearance after army takeover

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony Friday, making a defiant first public appearance since the military takeover that appeared to signal the end of his 37-year reign.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony Friday, making a defiant first public appearance since the military takeover that appeared to signal the end of his 37-year reign.

Mugabe, 93, had been confined to house arrest after the military took over the country.

But on Friday, he walked into the ceremony venue in Harare dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat, before listening to speeches with his eyes closed and applauding occasionally, an AFP correspondent reported.

The generals took over late on Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was abruptly sacked and Mugabe’s wife Grace emerged in prime position to succeed her increasingly frail husband.

Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Many citizens were stunned by the military’s intervention, sparked by the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa.

Analysts say the military leadership was strongly opposed to the rise of Mugabe’s ambitious 52-year-old wife, while Mnangagwa has close ties to the defence establishment.

Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks on Thursday, but no official statement has been issued on the status of negotiations that could see him eased out of office.

Government television showed Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state, at Thursday’s talks standing smiling alongside army chief General Constantino Chiwenga.

Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe’s most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.

But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing rebuke of Mugabe’s leadership and Grace’s presidential ambitions.

The military said Friday they had detained some “criminals” in Mugabe’s government in a reference to supporters of Grace’s presidential ambitions.

Grace has not been seen since the takeover of the military, which has not overtly called for President Mugabe’s resignation.

Many Zimbabweans have either welcomed the army’s intervention or were indifferent to it.

“We needed change. Our situation has been pathetic,” said Keresenzia Moyo, a 65-year-old housewife in Harare.

– ‘Very delicate time’ –

Morgan Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and long-time opponent of Mugabe, told journalists in Harare on Thursday that Mugabe must resign “in the interest of the people”.

He added that “a transitional mechanism” would be needed to ensure stability.

Tendai Biti, who served as finance minister during the coalition government after the 2008 elections, called it “a very delicate time for Zimbabwe”.

“A way has to be worked out to maintain stability,” he said.

Harare’s residents have largely ignored the few soldiers still on the streets with shops, businesses and offices operating as usual.

Eldred Masunungure, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said the formation of a “pre-election coalition” could be a viable response to the crisis.

The international community has been watching the crisis closely.

In Paris, the head of the African Union, Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, warned Thursday that the continent “will never accept the military coup d’etat” in Zimbabwe and called for a return to the “constitutional order”.

“(Problems) need to be resolved politically by the ZANU-PF party and not with an intervention by the army,” added Conde.

Meeting in Botswana, the SADC called for an emergency regional summit to help resolve the crisis, urging Zimbabwe to “settle the political challenges through peaceful means”.

Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial ruler, called for elections scheduled for 2018 to go ahead.

– AFP

Zimbabweans are preparing to take to streets tomorrow to express themselves over the current political stand-off between Mugabe and the military #Zimbabwe 👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/ZtCpdK2Nli

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) November 17, 2017

Earlier:

‘We’ve made progress’ – Zimbabwe military

The Zimbabwean military says it has made progress in the ongoing negotiations with 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday dispatched a two-member team comprising defence and military veterans minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security minister Bongani Bongo to meet Mugabe and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

“Since our last updates on developments in the country, we wish to inform the nation that significant progress has been made in our operation. To this end, we have accounted for some of the criminals while others are still at large,” a statement by the military said early Friday morning.

“We are currently engaged with the Commander-in-Chief [Mugabe] on the way forward and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible. Defence attaches accredited to Zimbabwe have been briefed to appraise their principles on the obtaining situation in our country.

“We have also advised the bureaucrats to brief their co-operating partners. We implore other security services to continue operations and carry out their duties without any form of impediment to our operation.”

The military warned “certain individuals and groups within society”, saying they should not purport to be speaking on their behalf.

No details were released of the meeting between Mugabe and army generals who included general Constantino Chiwenga the leader of the takeover.

The military took charge of the country on Tuesday when tanks rolled into the capital and early Wednesday morning the army said it was acting against “criminals” surrounding Mugabe, but they insisted their actions were not a coup.

However, a statement by Zuma read that Mugabe had said he was “fine, but confined” at his blue roof mansion in the leafy suburb of Borrowdale.

– ANA

I am reliably informed that a deal is being finalized. It appears Mugabe’s demands for safe passage for his family have been granted. Final details might be confirmed in a few hours. #Zimbabwe

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) November 16, 2017

Earlier:

No word from Mugabe and Zimbabwe army generals as meeting ends

Zimbabwe’s beleaguered 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe’s meeting on Thursday with army general’s including Constantino Chwenga, who is leading the “coup”, went on late into the night, but there has been no word as to what the outcome was.

It had been widely speculated that Mugabe would agree to step down provided that his safety and that of his family were guaranteed.

The meeting at State House, also attended by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) envoys – South Africa Defence Minister Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo – ended just before midnight.

Chiwenga took control of the country on Tuesday in a move the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said was aimed at removing “criminals” surrounding the ageing president.

However, regional body SADC, which held an emergency security troika meeting in  Botswana on Thursday, has warned it will not tolerate any unconstitutional change of government.

Meanwhile, the fate of the arrested ministers, including Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, remains unknown.
– ANA

Earlier:

Zimbabwe military continues purge of ‘criminal elements’

Amid the crisis in Zimbabwe, the military is extending its dragnet to “fish out” what it describes as “criminal elements” from within President Robert Mugabe’s government and ruling Zanu PF party, Zimbabwe’s NewsDay reported on Friday morning.

The crisis began after tanks entered the capital, Harare, on Tuesday in what was to become an unprecedented military takeover, which general’s still deny is a coup.

Soldiers took over the state broadcaster ZBC, set up roadblocks across the country and surrounded government buildings. Mugabe was said to be confined at his private residence. The army said the president and his family were “safe and sound”.

On Wednesday the army began picking up the “criminals”.

The arrests continued as the 93-year-old Mugabe and army generals, including Commander Constantino Chiwenga the mastermind behind the “coup”, met at the State House in the capital Harare on Thursday afternoon.

The negotiations were also attended by Southern African Development Community (SADC) envoys – South Africa Defence Minister Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo. The meeting ended just before midnight.

However, as more prominent figures were nabbed Central Intelligence Organisation director Albert Miles Nguluvhe was released on Thursday.

A senior military official said Nguluvhe was free to go because he was not a member of Grace Mugabe’s so-called G40 faction, but added that the official reason for his arrest was to “alienate him” from the president.

The G40 faction comprises higher education minister, Jonathan Moyo, and his local government counterpart Saviour Kasukuwere. Both men were picked up by the army from Mugabe’s private Borrowdale residence known as the “Blue Roof”.

Commissioner of the police Augustine Chihuri was reportedly arrested in an overnight military swoop that saw Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo’s house raided, Chombo has not been seen since.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Paul Chimedza was reportedly nabbed in Bubi as he tried to sneak out of the country through the Beitbridge Border Post.

Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao (public service minister) and foreign affairs minister Walter Mzembi have been fingered as part of the G40 faction blamed for the sacking of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa – which ignited the crisis. They are both thought to be out of the country.

Mnangagwa, a former freedom fighter has the backing of the military, which wants him reinstated is backed by a Zanu PF faction dubbed “Lacoste”, whose members had been under siege before the military takeover.

Zanu-PF youth league secretary Kudzanai Chipanga, arrested early on Wednesday after he denigrated army generals. He later apologised to Chiwenga on state television for insulting top military officials. He said he had “learnt his lesson” well.

The night before the apology, soldiers allegedly beat up Chipanga and forced him to read his statement criticising the army over and over until dawn.

–ANA

https://twitter.com/tongaim/status/931217182448603139