Mugabe has resigned as parliament moved to impeach him

Mugabe has resigned during a parliamentary seating which was tabled to remove him as president of Zimbabwe. The parliamentary speaker has confirmed that Mugabe who has led Zimbabwe for 30 years and was the leader of Zanu-PF for 37 has finally stepped down.

Mugabe faced a losing battle as his own party fired him on Sunday and expelled his wife, Grace for life. The pair were also axed alongside several minsters and party officials including Jonathon Moyo and the leader of the youth wing, Kudzanayi Chipanga.

While Mugabe was defiant and refused to resign on live TV on Sunday, where he was surrounded by army generals, Zanu-PF said they would move forward with a motion to table several motions of misconduct and ultimately impeach him.

Mugabe’s resignation has effectively paved the way for Emmerson Mnangagwa who was re-elected to vice-president of Zanu-PF after being fired two weeks ago – to lead the party in the general elections next year.

Earlier

Watch the video of the motions tabled against Mugabe below

Earlier

Zim parliament moves to impeach Mugabe

The two houses of the Zimbabwe Parliament, meeting to consider the motion to remove President Robert Mugabe, has been moved to the International Conference Centre in the capital Harare in order to accommodate the joint sitting.

Political parties are seeking a speedy vote of no confidence in the 93-year-old leader who is under increasing pressure to step down after 37 years in power.

Parliament is too small to hold both the National Assembly and the Senate together and a decision was taken to move to the bigger venue of the convention centre.

Speaker Jacob Mudenda said that proceedings would start at 4.30pm.

A two thirds majority in the National Assembly and Senate is needed to remove Mugabe.

Earlier

Zimbabwe’s parliament prepared to start impeachment proceedings against President Robert Mugabe Tuesday, as ousted vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who could be the country’s next leader, told him to step down.

 

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Further street protests have been called in Harare, raising fears that the political turmoil could spill over into violence.

Mugabe also suffered humiliation on Tuesday when almost no government ministers heeded his call to attend a cabinet meeting at his State House residence, official media reported.

The snub piled pressure on the embattled president after Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice president whose removal by Mugabe sparked the military intervention last week, said he would consider returning to Zimbabwe if his safety was guaranteed.

Mnangagwa’s intervention is his first public move since the army seized control.

It  comes as lawmakers of Mugabe’s once-loyal ZANU-PF party were scheduled to meet in parliament at 1215 GMT to trigger proceedings that could see the president stripped of office.

Dozens of protesters gathered near parliament, chanting for Mugabe to resign and brandishing Zimbabwean flags and banners emblazoned with “Mugabe go!”.

A bubbling factional squabble over the presidential succession erupted two weeks ago when Mugabe fired Mnangagwa.

The dismissal put Mugabe’s wife Grace in prime position to succeed her 93-year-old husband, prompting the military to step in to block her path to the presidency.

After Mnangagwa fled abroad, the army took over the country and placed Mugabe under house arrest — provoking amazement and delight among many Zimbabweans as his autocratic 37-year reign appeared close to an end.

– AFP

Earlier:

‘Do honourable thing’ and step aside, Khama asks Mugabe in open letter

Botswana’s President Ian Khama has reiterated his call for his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe to step down in an open letter released on Tuesday.

In the letter, Khama, a Mugabe critic, calls on the 93-year-old to do the “honourable thing” and voluntarily make way for a new leader for the Southern African country.

“The people of Zimbabwe have for a long time been subjected to untold suffering as a result of poor governance under your leadership. It is therefore my conviction that by vacating the Presidency, this will usher in a new political dispensation that will pave the way for the much needed socio-economic recovery in Zimbabwe,” Khama writes.

“I therefore reiterate my appeal to you to honourably step aside, if you really care for them, as you profess, and if you cannot find it in you to do so, then as a Christian do so in the spirit of our Lord in order to usher in a new period going forward of unity, peace and prosperity for Zimbabweans and allow your country to be the economic powerhouse it is capable of being.”

The letter was released ahead of the Zimbawean Parliament initiating impeachment proceedings against Mugabe.

– ANA

Earlier:

Mnangagwa turns down Mugabe talks over security fears

Fired Zimbabwe vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa has refused to hold talks President Robert Mugabe, citing security concerns.

In a five page statement released on Tuesday morning, Mnangagwa, sacked by Mugabe on November 6, said he is aware the military on Monday night had said he is set to return home.

“I can confirm the President Robert Gabriel Mugabe made contact with me and invited me to return home to form a discussion on the current political events in the nation. 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,” said Mnangagwa.

“Given the events that followed my dismissal on Monday 6 November, my security details assigned to me and at my residency were immediately withdrawn. This was contrary to  all protocols that have existed in Zimbabwe to former state vice presidents. Security who are friendly to me warned me that plans were underfoot to eliminate me once arrested. It was in my security interest to leave the country immediately.”

ALSO READ: Lessons for Jacob Zuma in Robert Mugabe’s misfortunes

Mnangagwa also threw his weight behind Tuesday’s planned impeachment process in Parliament and the various protests that have been taking place since his dismissal, saying he cannot oppose  the “will of the people”.

“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 by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy.”

Mnangagwa’s statement comes as Zanu PF and the opposition parties are going ahead with tabling the vote of no confidence in President Mugabe when Parliament sits on Tuesday afternoon (2:30pm).

Crowds are preparing to start gathering in central Harare for a planned march to Parliament aimed at complementing the impeachment process.

Opposition MDC youth leaders and activist group Tajamuka both confirmed that they are going ahead with the rally organised by General Constantino Chiwenga’s late call for calm on Monday night.

“The impeachment is going and we are marching to Parliament this morning,” said MDC Youth League leader Happymore Dziva.

Mugabe, meanwhile, unperturbed by the events, has called for a cabinet meeting in defiance of his dismissal as Zanu PF leader and calls for him to step down.

Some of the cabinet members were party to his sacking as party leader on Sunday and have vowed not to attend the cabinet meeting set for State House Tuesday morning.

”Mugabe will attend that meeting alone…he has been fired as our First secretary of Zanu PF and a resolution to recall him taken,” said one minister.

Chief Secretary to Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda insisted that the cabinet meeting will go ahead and his reasoning is that government must continue to function.

“All government ministers, permanent secretaries and civil servants in general, are kindly advised to note the the government machinery must continue to function as usual, notwithstanding  the current prevailing situation in the country,” said Sibanda.

By 10am there was no minister in attendance at the cabinet meeting that had been scheduled to start at 9am

– ANA

Earlier:

Ex-deputy PM Mutambara says push against Mugabe must remain inclusive

Former deputy prime minister of Zimbabwe, Arthur Mutambara, on Tuesday said the pressure on beleaguered 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe to step down must remain inclusive.

It has been a week since the army moved tanks into the capital Harare in a military takeover described as corrective action that entailed arresting criminals who they said had surrounded Mugabe.

At the weekend, millions of Zimbabweans at home and abroad took to the streets to demand the end of Mugabe’s rule that has left the country in economic shambles.

“The current struggles must be kept inclusive, beyond, and broader than, ZANU PF. The people who came out on Saturday were not just ZANU PF supporters,” Mutambara said.

He said the massive turnout on Saturday at Zimbabwe Grounds was “a Zimbabwe Moment. It was not about ZANU PF. It was about our country collectively, period”.

The former deputy prime minister is among the many Zimbabweans who have returned home from their diaspora bases to try and steer developments towards democracy.

At the weekend, ZANU PF stalwart and cyber security minister Patrick Chinamasa raised the ire of opposition parties when he declared: “We were correcting our own mess, we have the majority in Parliament, we can expel the President alone and we are the ruling party, so where does a coalition come in? We don’t need them.”

His remarks were in apparent reference to ZANU PF’s announcement that it had removed Mugabe as leader of the party and would impeach him if he refused to step down.

“It is clear that ZANU-PF succession matters triggered the current events, and ZANU PF will try to be the biggest beneficiary. There is need for everyone involved in the current events to be inclusive, magnanimous, and national interest driven,” said Mutambara.

He said while pressure must continue to be applied on Mugabe to step down, alternative voices to ZANU PF must make sure that they influence the content and direction of the unfolding changes in Zimbabwe.

“Their demands and expectations must be formally articulated and adopted by everyone involved in the obtaining situation. Short of this, the Zimbabwe Moment will be a missed opportunity,” added Mutambara.

– ANA

Earlier:

Mnangagwa breaks silence, says he isn’t returning to Zim just yet

Ousted Zimbabwe vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa has said in a press statement that he told beleaguered 93-year-old President Mugabe on the telephone that he had only two options left – to cooperate with the army and step down or face the wrath of his countrymen.

At the weekend millions of Zimbabweans at home and abroad gathered in various cities to demand that the ageing leader, who has ruled their country with an iron fist for 37 years, step down.

“In my conversation with the president I told him that there are two options, that is (a) to cooperate in the current negotiations with comrades from the defence forces for a peaceful resolution of this crisis, which would result in the preservation of his legacy,” said Mnangagwa in his five -page statement.

He added: “(b) that if he continues to dig in, in defiance of the will of the people, he might suffer humiliation because definitely the will of the people will prevail against one person. He requested me to come to State House, and l replied that l was out of the country”.

The ousted vice president, whose sacking precipitated the army take over, said he would only return to Zimbabwe at the request of his ZANU PF colleagues provided there was an assurance from the army that it was safe for him to do so.

It has been a week since tanks rolled into the capital, Harare, where they remain stationed at strategic locations that include Mugabe’s office, Parliament and state broadcaster ZBC premises.

READ: Mnangagwa’s call to Robert Mugabe to resign

“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 by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy,” said Mnangagwa, who is widely tipped to take over the reigns from Mugabe.

ZANU PF at the weekend announced that it had removed Mugabe as its leader and had given him an ultimatum to step down, which he ignored triggering an impeachment process. Mugabe’s wife has been kicked out of the ruling party.

– ANA

Earlier:

Zim military commander reveals Mnagagwa expected back in country

Zimbabwe military commander General Constatine Chiwenga has revealed on Monday night, that former Vice President Emmerson Mnagagwa is “expected in the country” shortly following what he said were successful talks with President Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe to an unknown destination after being fired by Mugabe two weeks ago.

The major clamp down by the army suggests that Mugabe and the military may come to a solution that paves the way for a transition involving Mnangagwa returning to government and ultimately the one week Zimbabwean crisis.

“We have made consultations with the president and agreed on a road map to address the prevailing situation in the country,” said Chiwenga.

Former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda who arrived in Harare on Monday, is expected to mediate in the talks between Mugabe and Mnangagwa.

Sources close to the developments claim Kaunda will persuade Mugabe to step down.

ALSO READ: Bob digs in his heels

Meanwhile, Chiwenga called on the University of Zimbabwe students to return to class and war veterans to desist from activities that may disturb the peace in the country.

The war vets have organised a rally to complement the ruling Zanu PF party efforts to impeach Mugabe in Parliament after he defied their deadline to resign.

Zanu PF secretary for information Simon Khaya Moyo has released a statement confirming that the impeachment process will go ahead in Parliament on Tuesday.

“We have instructed our chief whip to institute a vote of no confidence process in Parliament tomorrow,” said Moyo.

Members of Parliament from outside Harare were spotted in the capital today with most confirming party caucus meetings ahead of Tuesday’s Parliament sitting.

– ANA

Earlier:

Zanu PF formally notifies Mugabe of recall from party

Zanu PF has formally notified under-fire Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Monday, of the decision to recall him from the ruling party.

“Pursuant to the decisions of the Zanu PF central committee entered on November 19, 2017 recalling Cde President Robert Gabriel Mugabe from the position president and first secretary of Zanu PF, the party wishes to announce that Cde R G Mugabe has been formally notified of the decisions this morning,” Zanu PF secretary for information Simon Khaya Moyo, said in a statement.

“As for that, the party has instructed the chief whip to proceed with impeachment process against Cde R G Mugabe as it has not received the anticipated confirmation of his resignation from the Speaker of Parliament. A caucus of Zanu PF parliamentarians is currently underway in pursuit of the resolutions by the special session of the central committee to initiate impeachment processes.

ALSO READ: Mnangagwa, ‘Zimbabwe’s richest man’ and his ‘illicit’ mining exploitations

“The motion of proceedings is expected to be tabled before Parliament when it seats on Tuesday November 21, 2017.”

Legal think-tank Veritas said that once the Senate and the National Assembly, sitting jointly, have passed a resolution that the president should be removed from office, he immediately ceases to hold office in terms of Section 97(3) of the Constitution.

“In trying to work out a likely scenario, we must remember that at its meeting yesterday the Zanu PF central committee declared Mr [Emmerson] Mnangagwa to be the party’s candidate for President. So the party does not have to wait for its congress in December to make a nomination. It has already done so,” it said.

“If, therefore, Parliament does resolve in terms of section 97 of the Constitution that Mugabe should be removed from office, the consequences will be: Mugabe immediately ceases to hold office as president; [Phelekezela] Mphoko, the sole Vice-President, will take over as acting president.”

Veritas said the fact that Mphoko may be in detention or outside the country does not matter: his assumption of office will be automatic, and will not depend on his taking an oath of office.

“If Mphoko is persuaded to resign or is impeached, this will not happen, because he will cease to be Vice-President upon his resignation or the passing of the impeachment motion. Even if Mphoko does not resign or is not impeached, his term of office as Acting President may be fleeting, and will depend on how soon Zanu PF can notify the Speaker that it has nominated Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s successor,” the legal think-tank said.

ALSO READ: Mugabe’s end game: How the president could leave power

Veritas said that this might be no longer than the time it would take  for Zanu PFs chief whip to hand in the nomination notice to the speaker and once that is done Mnangagwa will become president and will assume office when he is sworn in by the Chief Justice.

“The new President will hold office until the next general election, which should be held not later than August 23, 2018,” it said.

“Upon the assumption of office by the new President ‑ ie when he is sworn in ‑ all current ministers and deputy ministers will go out of office in terms of section 108(1)(c) of the Constitution. They will, however, be eligible for re-appointment when the new President appoints his own ministers.”

–ANA

Earlier:

Impeachment motion looms against Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s ruling party is to launch impeachment proceedings Tuesday against President Robert Mugabe, in the latest bid to oust the 93-year-old strongman still clinging to power after 37 years in office.

A military takeover last week was followed by huge street protests against the authoritarian leader, and the ZANU-PF, his own once-loyal party, has also turned against him.

“The party has instructed the chief whip to proceed with impeachment processes,” ZANU-PF said in a statement, with the motion due to be presented before parliament on Tuesday.

On Monday evening, army chief Constantino Chiwenga told reporters that progress had been made in talks towards an apparent exit deal for Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state.

He also said Mugabe was in touch with Emmerson Mnangagwa, the ousted vice president whose sacking led to the military takeover and Mugabe’s shock loss of power.

ALSO READ: Five places Grace and Robert Mugabe can retire to

“The security services are encouraged by new developments which include contact between the president and the former vice president… who is expected in the country shortly,” Chiwenga said.

“The nation will be advised of the outcome of talks between the two.”

Chiwenga called for calm after Zimbabweans had celebrated Saturday at anti-Mugabe marches that would have been brutally repressed just a week ago.

– Holding on –

The marchers’ joy quickly turned to despair as Mugabe brushed aside the turmoil, blithely declaring on Sunday that he would chair a top-level meeting of the party that had just disavowed him.

In a televised address, the president defied expectations he would step down, pitching the country into a second week of political crisis.

Mugabe is feted in parts of Africa as the continent’s last surviving independence leader.

He was a key figure in the war for independence and took office as prime minister in 1980, riding a wave of goodwill.

His reputation was swiftly tarnished, however, by his authoritarian instincts, rights abuses and economic policies.

Most Zimbabweans have known life only under his rule, which has been defined by violent suppression, economic collapse and international isolation.

 

ALSO READ: Democracy is slowly winning in Zim

Despite his fragile health, Mugabe had previously said he would stand in elections next year that could have kept him in power until he was nearly 100 years old.

But a factional squabble over the presidential succession erupted into the open on November 13, precipitating the crisis.

Mugabe’s wife Grace, 52, secured prime position to succeed her husband when Mnangagwa, who is close to the military leadership, was abruptly fired.

After Mnangagwa fled abroad, the army took over the country and placed Mugabe under house arrest.

The army insists it has not carried out a coup, but rather an operation to arrest allegedly corrupt supporters around the Mugabe family.

– Public anger rising? –

ZANU-PF lawmakers said that they would take the first steps to impeach Mugabe on Tuesday after he ignored their ultimatum to resign.

“We have the numbers, the opposition is also going to support us,” Vongai Mupereri, a party MP, said.

“We are going to impeach — the man has to go,” said another Zanu-PF lawmaker, MacKenzie Ncube.

Chris Vandome, an analyst at the Chatham House, a London-based think-tank, warned of the risk of public unrest.

“They will start impeaching him (Tuesday), that is certainly the will of the military, but it’s increasingly now the will of the people,” Vandome told AFP.

“The longer this goes on for, the more the likelihood of violence increases.”

Legal experts say impeachment could take weeks and be subject to court appeals.

Mugabe is thought to be battling to delay his exit in order to secure a deal that would guarantee protection for him and his family.

“It might take days and weeks, but Mugabe is on his way out,” said Charles Muramba, a 46-year-old bus driver in Harare.

– AFP