Mugabe impeachment

By late yesterday afternoon, Zanu-PF party had reportedly summoned its members of parliament "as the former liberation movement moved to trigger a process to impeach beleaguered President Robert Mugabe".

Mugabe, according to a number of officials, had agreed to resign after the military had met a number of his conditions, including immunity from prosecution for himself, his wife and their family including her son from a previous marriage. But he apparently backtracked on the agreement to write the resignation speech together with senior officers and, at the end, refused to show them what he had written.

Impeachment talks were taking place yesterday after the Monday midday deadline for his resignation came and went.

The deadline was set by Zanu-PF.

The embattled leader surprised Zimbabweans on Sunday, declaring on TV that he planned to remain as president.

Zanu-PF says it backs impeachment, and proceedings could begin as soon as today when parliament meets.

Mugabe's grip on power has weakened considerably since the country's army intervened last week Wednesday in a row over who should succeed him.

The crisis began two weeks ago when the 93-year-old leader sacked his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, angering army commanders who saw it as an attempt to position his wife Grace as next president.

Zimbabwe has since then seen huge street rallies demanding his immediate resignation.

The protests have been backed by the influential war veterans - who fought in the conflict that led to independence from Britain in 1980.

The group's leader, Chris Mutsvangwa, yesterday called for more demonstrations against the president's attempt to cling on to power.

"We want to see his back now," Mutsvangwa said. "Mugabe, your rule is over. The emperor has no clothes. Thank you very much."

What is clear from commentators is that Zimbabweans believe the Mugabe era is over. Saturday's protests unleashed something and people believe that a line has been crossed. Now it is really about negotiating the time, the process and the choreography of Mugabe's departure.

During Mugabe’s 20-minute address on Sunday evening, the president, who was flanked by generals, made no mention of the pressure from his party and the public to quit.

Instead, he declared that the military had done nothing wrong by seizing power and placing him under house arrest.

Before his speech, Mnangagwa was named as Zanu-PF's new leader and candidate for the 2018 general elections, while Mugabe's wife was expelled.

After Mugabe's speech, Zanu-PF chief whip Lovemore Matuke was quoted as saying that the resignation ultimatum was unchanged.

He added that impeachment proceedings could be launched today in parliament. This would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

The opposition MDC-T party has tried unsuccessfully to impeach Mugabe in the past, but this time the ruling party - which has an overwhelming majority in both houses - is likely to go against him.

However, the impeachment process could take weeks.

The BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane, said his understanding of the situation was that Mugabe had agreed to resign, but then changed his mind.

The generals have no intention of forcing Mr Mugabe out by the barrel of a gun, and are happy to let the Zanu-PF carry out its procedures, working through impeachment if necessary.

The War Veterans Association, which used to back Mugabe, now says it is time for him to step down.

"Thirty-seven years, you have had your time, you are toast now politically," Mutsvangwa told the BBC.

According to the British government Mugabe has "lost the support of the people and of his party."

SADC and the African Union are watching the matter very closely and today, South African President Jacob Zuma is headed to Luanda, Angola to attend another urgent SADC Organ Troika meeting "to discuss the unfolding developments in Zimbabwe”.

BBC