The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe on Sunday addressed Zimbabweans in a televised speech but failed to announce his resignation as leader of the country as many were expecting and anticipating.
He however called for unity towards resolving challenges of Zimbabwe as he acknowledges the many concerns that have been raised by the military and Zimbabweans over the past one week.
President Mugabe also said he would be presiding over the Zanu PF congress next month to decide the new succession plan within the party.
The military last week took charge of the country but claimed its action wasn’t a coup but an action to clear criminals around President Mugabe.
On Sunday the Zanu PF recalled Mr. Mugabe replacing him with the dismissed vice president Emmerson Mnanagwa.
His wife, Grace was also been expelled from the party putting pressure on President Mugabe to exit power.
Although President Mugabe has been removed as leader of the Zanu PF he still remains President of the country.
On Saturday there was a major street rally by Zimbabweans demanding that he steps down.
President Mugabe has refused to step down peacefully insisting on ending his tenure as negotiations continue with mediators and military leaders.
This action by the Zanu PF could be seen as a humiliation for Mr. Mugabe who led the country to independence in 1980 and has been the country’s leader since then.
Reuters reported that on Saturday that one of Mugabe’s nephews, Patrick Zhuwao has said that the 93-year-old leader and his wife Grace are “ready to die for what is correct”.
Zhuwao is reported by Reuters to have said that President Mugabe believes stepping down would only legitimise military takeover.
The military has placed Mr. Mugabe under house arrest but there are no signals of where his wife is currently.
Mugabe is reported to have had little sleep since the military seized power on Wednesday but was in good health.
Source: Africafeeds.com
