Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has refused to resign after meeting generals who have seized control of the country, as sources suggested the veteran leader was “buying time” to negotiate his exit.

The talks in Harare on Thursday come after soldiers this week put Mugabe under house arrest, took over state TV and blockaded main roads in a stunning turnaround for the 93-year-old leader who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1980.

Mugabe’s motorcade took him from his private residence to the State House for the talks, which were also attended by envoys from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc.

“They met today. He is refusing to step down. I think he is trying to buy time,” said a source close to the army leadership who declined to be named.

Government TV showed Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state, dressed in a navy blue blazer and grey trousers standing alongside army chief General Constantino Chiwenga who smiled and was dressed in fatigues.

Scathing rebuke 

Zimbabwe was left stunned by this week’s military intervention but attention has swiftly shifted to the prominent figures who could play a role in any transitional government.

Mugabe’s advanced age, poor health and listless public performances have fuelled a bitter succession battle between his wife Grace and former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who Mugabe sacked last week.

Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe’s most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.

But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing rebuke of Mugabe’s leadership and Grace’s presidential ambitions.

The generals are strongly opposed to Grace Mugabe‘s rise, while Mnangagwa has maintained close ties to the army and could emerge as the next president.

‘Very delicate time’ 

Morgan Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and long-time opponent of Mugabe, told journalists in Harare that Mugabe must resign “in the interest of the people”.

He added that “a transitional mechanism” would be needed to ensure stability.

Tendai Biti, who served as finance minister during the coalition government after the 2008 elections, called it “a very delicate time for Zimbabwe”.

“A way has to be worked out to maintain stability. That restoration requires a roadmap and to address the grievances that have led to this situation,” he said.

The African Union said it would allow Zimbabwe’s southern neighbours in the SADC to mediate in the crisis.

Smail Chergui, the AU commissioner for peace and security, said Africa was putting its faith in the efforts of the SADC, noting that its envoys had been able to meet Mugabe, after talks in Washington.

“I think as we speak the parliament is still in force, is still working, the government is still working, and there is no sign of violence whatsoever in the country,” Chergui said.

Eldred Masunungure, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said the formation of a “pre-election coalition” could be a viable response to the crisis.

ALSO READ: Museveni is still young and alert to be overthrown like Mugabe, Andrew Mwenda

‘We need change’

Many Zimbabweans hoped the situation would pave the way to a more prosperous future.

“We needed change. Our situation has been pathetic,” said Keresenzia Moyo, 65.

“The economy has been in the doldrums for a very long time. We are happy with what has been done.”

State TV said a graduation ceremony at a university where Mugabe is the chancellor would proceed as planned on Friday morning, although it was unclear if the veteran leader would attend.

Harare’s residents have largely ignored the few soldiers still on the streets and have continued commuting, socialising and working.

The international community has been watching the crisis closely.

In Paris, the head of the African Union, Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, warned that the continent “will never accept the military coup d’etat” in Zimbabwe and called for a return to the “constitutional order”.

“(Problems) need to be resolved politically by the Zanu-PF party and not with an intervention by the army,” added Conde.

Meeting in Botswana, the SADC called for an emergency regional summit to help resolve the crisis, urging Zimbabwe to “settle the political challenges through peaceful means”.

Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial ruler, demanded that elections scheduled for 2018 go ahead.

Source: news24

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Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe

RELATED: Mugabe held at his home, says South African president

The army has this week, in what appears a s a coup, detained President Robert Mugabe at his Blue room home also taking over the state broadcaster.

Mwenda, calling the act in Zimbabwe a mere sideline of president Mugabe but a coup against his wife Grace,  says Museveni has disbanded the old guard in the NRM and the UPDF with the last one of them being former premier, Amama Mbabzi. Mwenda’s analysis was contained on his Facebook page.

“Almost the entire leadership of the UPDF today was not in the bush. And with the exit of Amama Mbabazi, the NRM lost the last historical with political weight that could resemble that of Mnangagwa. Events in Zimbabwe may hasten Museveni’s elimination of any serious rival for power within NRM’s Old guard,” he writes.

Mwenda continued saying Museveni was still young and alert and that Mugabe lost the plot because he had grown too old and tired to conduct all the intrigues of power. “Museveni is 20 years younger than Mugabe,” he continued.

ALSO READ: Zimbabwe military puts country on lockdown

Read Mwenda’s entire analysis below:

The post Museveni is still young and alert to be overthrown like Mugabe, Andrew Mwenda first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

ALSO READ: Mugabe held at his home, says South African president

A section of Ugandan members of parliaments have come out to analyze the situation in Harare.  The minister of state for Urban Development also Buzaaya county MP, Isaac Isanga Musumba,  faulted the Zimbabwean leader  for the military move saying that President Mugabe needed to be sensitive to the population he has been leading since some of the people were a generation of liberation from colonial rule .

Zimbabwe awaits next steps after military takeover

Busiro East MP, Medard Segona, believes that the army takeover of power from Mugabe who has been Zimbabwean president for 37 years was uncalled for since the military has been part of the group running down the country.

Segona stated that as an instrumental figure in the African Union, Mugabe should be advised by the continental body to step aside to allow a new government to access power peacefully.

Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko notes that what is taking place in Zimbabwe should serve as a  learning lesson to other African leaders who use the state sovereignty to man the state institutions as own properties.

Mugabe now aged 93, has dominated the impoverished country’s political scene since independence from the UK. His health has detoriated in recent years with critics accusing his wife Grace of usurping the presidential powers.

The military has seized control in Zimbabwe but has said President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, is safe.

RELATED: Zimbabwe military puts country on lockdown

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