Zimbabweans flood streets as Mugabe’s future in balance

– ‘Mugabe cornered’ –

Mugabe enraged many Zimbabweans when he failed to resign following talks with the army’s top brass on Thursday, with sources suggesting the veteran leader was “buying time” to negotiate an end to his 37-year reign.

He appeared publicly for the first time on Friday at a pre-planned graduation ceremony in Harare, further stoking speculation about his talks with General Constantino Chiwenga, who led the military power grab.

Later on Friday, eight of the 10 regional branches of Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF took to state television to call for him to go — yet another a serious blow to the embattled leader.

“Thousands for Mugabe ‘final push’,” blared the front-page of the News Day Weekender while the Daily News lead with: “Mugabe cornered”.

– ‘It is finished’ –

“The game is up,” said Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the independence war veterans’ association which organised the Highfield protest.

“It’s done, it’s finished… The generals have done a fantastic job,” he said.

“We want to restore our pride and (Saturday) is the day… we can finish the job which the army started.”

Mawarire, the outspoken Mugabe critic who rose to prominence last year with his #ThisFlag protest movement against the president, called on Zimbabweans of all backgrounds to march with the war veterans.

In their Friday statement, Zimbabwe’s military chiefs said their operation to round up “criminals” in Mugabe’s government was ongoing.

– Clashing with Grace –

Their seizure of power appeared to be the climax of a dispute over who would succeed the veteran leader.

Before being pushed out, the vice president had clashed repeatedly with Mugabe’s wife Grace, 52.

Both had been seen as leading contenders to replace Mugabe but Mnangagwa had the tacit support of the armed forces, which viewed Grace — a political novice — with derision.

The United States has called for the Zimbabwe army to quickly relinquish power.

“We all should work together for a quick return to a civilian rule,” said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ahead of talks with African foreign ministers.