Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony Friday, making a defiant first public appearance since the military takeover that appeared to signal the end of his 37-year reign. Mugabe, 93, had been confined to house arrest after the military took over the country. …
Read More »Zimbabwe army confirms detentions of Mugabe allies: statement
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s military said Friday it had detained some “criminals” in President Robert Mugabe’s government after generals took power in a dispute over who would succeed the 93-year-old leader. “Significant progress has been made in our operation,” the defence forces said in a statement after vowing …
Read More »Ousted VP returns to Zimbabwe as Mugabe clings on
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking last week triggered the military’s takeover, has returned to the country, an aide told AFP Friday as ageing leader Robert Mugabe clung onto power. Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed to President Mugabe, flew back …
Read More »Power, whites and gays – Mugabe in quotes
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 93, has a long history of making colourful or controversial remarks during a reign that has spanned nearly four decades. Among them: – On staying in office – “Some are saying ‘Mr Mugabe is old, so he should step down’… No! When …
Read More »African Union lets SADC bloc take lead on Zimbabwe
Washington, United States | AFP | The African Union will allow Zimbabwe’s southern neighbors in the SADC regional bloc to mediate in the political crisis there, a senior official told reporters after talks in Washington. Smail Chergui, the AU commissioner for peace and security, said the union hopes the Zimbabwean …
Read More »US says people of Zimbabwe must choose own government
Washington, United States | AFP | US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that the people of Zimbabwe must be allowed to choose their own government through democratic elections, after the military took power. “We all should work together for a quick return to a civilian rule in that …
Read More »Mugabe defiant in talks with army
Mugabe refuses to stand down in talks with military Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state, refused to resign during a crunch meeting Thursday with military generals who have seized control of the country. The talks in Harare came after tumultuous days …
Read More »Embattled Mugabe meets regional envoys in Harare
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai called on Thursday for President Robert Mugabe to step down after the military took control of the country. “In the interest of the people of Zimbabwe, Mr Robert Mugabe must resign,” Tsvangirai said, calling for a negotiated process to ease …
Read More »‘I think the army are in negotiations with Mugabe and Mnangagwa’
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s military remained in control of the country on Thursday morning, with President Robert Mugabe still under house arrest and the generals believed to be negotiating the return of sacked vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa. “I think the army are in negotiations with Mugabe and Mnangagwa,” Derek Matyszak, an …
Read More »Zimbabweans elated but cautious as Mugabe flounders
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | On Harare’s streets, many expressed amazement and delight Wednesday that President Robert Mugabe’s long reign may be coming to a close, but people also admitted the future looked unstable. Mugabe, 93, has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 — longer than many can remember — and the sudden …
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