Mugabe shock: digs in despite dismissal
Veterans leader says impeachment is likely as Zimbabwe’s veteran leader says he will preside over Zanu-PF conference
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe defied expectations that he would resign on Sunday, pledging to preside over a Zanu-PF congress in December, even though the ruling party had removed him as its leader hours earlier. In an address to the nation on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday evening, Mugabe acknowledged the difficulties the country was experiencing, and said there should be no bitterness and that he would preside over his party’s conference in a few weeks, ignoring the fact he is no longer its leader. Zanu-PF gave the 93-year-old less than 24 hours to quit as head of state or face impeachment, an apparent attempt to secure a peaceful end to his reign after a de facto coup. Mugabe said in his address on state television that he acknowledged criticism against him from Zanu-PF, the military and the public, but did not comment on the possibility of standing down. The leader of Zimbabwe’s war veterans said shortly after Mugabe’s television appearance that plans to impeac...
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