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WORLD NEWS Monday 20 noveMber 2017

Zimbabwe president defies mounting pressure to leave office

ignation on two occasions amid factional battles with- bility of our nation and for
with military command- in the ruling party. “What- the welfare of our people,”
ers after they effectively ever the pros and cons of Mugabe said.
took over the country on the way they went about The deputy whom Mugabe
Tuesday. The commanders registering those concerns, fired, former Vice President
were troubled by his firing I, as the president of Zimba- Emmerson Mnangagwa, is
of his longtime deputy and bwe, as their commander positioned to become Zim-
the positioning of unpopu- in chief, do acknowledge babwe’s next leader after
lar first lady Grace Mugabe the issues they have drawn the party committee made
to succeed him. my attention to, and do him its nominee to take
He referred to the military’s believe that these were over from Mugabe, who
concerns about the state raised in the spirit of hones- has ruled since indepen-
of Zimbabwe, where the ty and out of deep and pa- dence from white minority
economy has deteriorated triotic concern for the sta- rule in 1980.q

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe delivers his speech dur-
ing a live broadcast at State House in Harare, Sunday, Nov, 19,
2017. Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has baffled the
country by ending his address on national television without an-
nouncing his resignation.
(AP Photo)
By CHRIS TORCHIA ship post, and huge crowds
FARAI MUTSAKA poured into the streets of
Associated Press Harare, the capital, on Sat-
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — urday to demand that he
Zimbabwe’s President Rob- leave office.
ert Mugabe defied calls to Yet the president sought
quit Sunday, saying he will to project authority in his
preside over a ruling party speech, which he deliv-
congress in December in ered after shaking hands
an announcement that with security force com-
could trigger impeach- manders, one of whom
ment proceedings this leaned over a couple of
week and more protests times to help Mugabe find
demanding his ouster. his place on the page he
In a televised address, the was reading.
93-year-old Mugabe ac- The Central Committee of
knowledged what he said the ruling ZANU-PF party
were “a whole range of voted to dismiss Mugabe
concerns” of Zimbabweans as party leader at a meet-
about the chaotic state of ing earlier Sunday and said
the government and the impeachment proceed-
economy, but he stopped ings would begin if he does
short of what many people not resign by noon Mon-
in the southern African na- day. Mugabe made no ref-
tion were hoping for — a erence to the party moves
statement that he was re- against him, instead say-
signing after nearly four de- ing he would play a lead-
cades in power. ing role in a party congress
The once-formidable planned for Dec. 12-17.
Mugabe is now a virtually “The congress is due in a few
powerless, isolated figure, weeks from now,” Mugabe
making his continued in- said. “I will preside over its
cumbency all the more processes, which must not
unusual and extending be prepossessed by any
Zimbabwe’s political lim- acts calculated to under-
bo. He is largely confined mine it or compromise the
to his private home by the outcomes in the eyes of
military. The ruling party has the public.” Mugabe has
fired him from his leader- discussed his possible res-