Mugabe resist calls to resign, declares himself Zimbabwe’s legitimate leader

The currently political situation in Zimbabwe may take longer to return to normalcy than what the military announced when the seized power few days ago as long-time President Robert Mugabe is reportedly refusing to step down immediately, despite growing calls for his resignation.

Mugabe (second right) under house arrest, posing alongside Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga (right)

According to a Reuters report,  Mugabe is refusing to step down as demanded by the military saying he remain Zimbabwe’s only legitimate ruler.

The agency says Mugabe is resisting mediation by a Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori, who is acting as a middle-man between Mugabe and the generals.

BBC also reports that 93-year-old,  who was put under house arrest during a military takeover on Wednesday, amid a power struggle over who would succeed him has so far refused to agree to move aside.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said earlier it was “in the interests of the people” that Mugabe “resign, stetp down immediately”.

Mugabe, still seen by many Africans as a liberation hero, is reviled in the West as a despot whose disastrous handling of the economy and willingness to resort to violence to maintain power destroyed one of Africa’s most promising states.

Zimbabwean intelligence reports seen by Reuters suggest that former security chief Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was ousted as vice-president this month, has been mapping out a post-Mugabe vision with the military and opposition for more than a year.

Fuelling speculation that that plan might be rolling into action, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has been receiving cancer treatment in Britain and South Africa, returned to Harare late on Wednesday, his spokesman said.

South Africa said Mugabe had told President Jacob Zuma by telephone on Wednesday that he was confined to his home but was otherwise fine and the military said it was keeping him and his family, including wife Grace, safe.

Despite the lingering admiration for Mugabe, there is little public affection for 52-year-old Grace, a former government typist who started having an affair with Mugabe in the early 1990s as his first wife, Sally, was dying of kidney disease.

Dubbed “DisGrace” or “Gucci Grace” on account of her reputed love of shopping, she enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks of Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF in the last two years, culminating in Mnangagwa’s removal a week ago – a move seen as clearing the way for her to succeed her husband.

In contrast to the high political drama unfolding behind closed doors, the streets of the capital remained calm, with people going about their daily business, albeit under the watch of soldiers on armored vehicles at strategic locations.

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Jesus is Lord
Jesus is Lord
6 years ago

Why do people think good of Mugabe? He murdered missionaries. He murdered 30000 people just because they were Ndebele, thousands of people just because they were white, starves his nation while he lives in extreme luxury. Just like Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela, they never gave a damn about black people, they used them to bring about communism. While they make blacks and whites hate each other over skin colour, they take land for themselves and live like kings – typical communists. When Mugabe dies I shall celebrate!!!

Jamax
Jamax
6 years ago

Mugabe wakalamba chonde musamuzunze just take him ti his retirement Home & find someone to takeover goverment.

Chilungamo Chimawawa
Chilungamo Chimawawa
6 years ago

kwatsala APM ndi DPP yake pano!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gogodasi
6 years ago

Mugabe is simply being tactful while he knows he will be rescued by SADC under his scandalous friend, Zuma. Once SADC decides to send the army into Harare, the ZDF is likely to be overpowered and deflated by the regional force, allowing Mugabe to remain in power. This dictator is just buying time while he knows very well what the final outcome will be.

LOUIS LEGSON
LOUIS LEGSON
6 years ago

It’s not something new, to resist bcoz it’s too late to call for his stepdown now, things has been for so long while he awas a youth, just let him complete his business & u will him your hero……

Gwada
Gwada
6 years ago

Just shambok him until he meets his creator, nonsense

DPP BOMA
DPP BOMA
6 years ago
Reply to  Gwada

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Jesus is Lord
Jesus is Lord
6 years ago
Reply to  Gwada

It’s been rumoured that Satan worships Mugabe.

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