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Robert Mugabe stuns Zimbabwe by failing to quit – as it happened

This article is more than 6 years old

President addresses the nation after ruling party Zanu-PF gives him a deadline of noon on Monday to resign or face impeachment

 Updated 
Sun 19 Nov 2017 16.55 ESTFirst published on Sun 19 Nov 2017 12.24 EST
Robert Mugabe meets with defence forces generals at State House in Harare on Sunday.
Robert Mugabe (right) meets generals at State House in Harare on Sunday. Photograph: AP
Robert Mugabe (right) meets generals at State House in Harare on Sunday. Photograph: AP

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Key events

It has been another extraordinary day in the history of Zimbabwe - here is a summary of the latest events...

  • Mugabe remains head of state against all the odds after refusing to resign as president.
  • He was expected to stand down in a historic address live on television after conceding to military takeover.
  • But instead he clings to power following a rambling speech which left the nation stunned and baffled.
  • In a statement delivered in Harare he claimed military intervention, which saw him placed under house arrest four days ago, was no challenge to his authority.
  • The army stepped in to block Grace Mugabe’s tilt at power.
  • Speaking slowly and occasionally stumbling as he read from pages, Mugabe talked of the need for solidarity to resolve national problems.
  • He ended his speech by saying he will preside over an upcoming conference of the ruling Zanu-PF party.
  • His defiance comes despite his sacking by Zanu-PF and in the face of huge public opposition.
  • The news means widespread disappointment for those who thought they were witnessing the end of the Mugabe era and celebrated in euphoric scenes in the streets of Zimbabwe yesterday.
  • His refusal to go plunges the country into deep uncertainty.
  • The leader of Zimbabwe’s influential war veterans said plans for impeachment would go ahead as scheduled.
  • The generals involved in the military takeover will issue a statement on Monday.
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Emma Graham Harrison has been in Harare covering “Mugabe’s non-resignation”.

The presenter introducing Mugabe's non-resignation urged viewers to "sit back, relax and join us".

— Emma Graham-Harrison (@_EmmaGH) November 19, 2017
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Breaking: The generals who have been involved in this crisis since their military takeover are saying they will issue their own statement on Monday morning

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Zimbabwean political analyst George Shire told BBC News that Mugabe would be seeking out loopholes and hoping to prolong the impeachment process

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South African-based newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube has tweeted that General Chiwenga’s is facing accusations he has “sold out”.

Let me share with you what I am picking up. Military people below General Chiwenga believe he has sold out and might take this into their own hands. The people want Mugabe out yesterday , this might get out of control. Tonight did not help #Zimbabwe

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) November 19, 2017

Africa correspondent for The Globe and Mail asks: did Mugabe outfox the army generals tonight or is he just deeply deluded?

In his speech tonight, Mugabe claimed that he will "preside over" the ZANU-PF conference next month -- even though the party has fired him.
He also said the military takeover has not damaged his authority.
Did he outfox the army generals tonight -- or is he just deeply deluded?

— Geoffrey York (@geoffreyyork) November 19, 2017
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Speaking earlier Nkosi added: “Remember there is part of the community that still respects Robert Mugabe for the role he played in the liberation struggle against white minority rule. He was in prison for 10 years, he fought his way through until Zimbabweans gained their own independence in 1980. So there are people who still respect him even though they want him to step down so their lives can move on and that is why we don’t have a Gaddafi moment today.”

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe flanked by the Army Chief Chiwenga delivers his speech during a live broadcast at State House in Harare Photograph: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP
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Reacting to Mugabe’s speech, BBC news analyst Milton Nkosi said: “He has vowed to stay on. He wants to die in office. But it is clear there is very little room for him to manoeuvre. There is no way for him to survive this week”.

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Chris Mutsvangwa, the chairman of the Zimbabwe War Veterans Association and leader of the campaign to oust the embattled president, says Mugabe is “deaf and blind” to the desires of the people.

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Lots of people are joking on Twitter that Mugabe missed out the key pages of his speech which detailed his resignation.

Did Mugabe.... did he miss out the key pages. The pages where he says.... the thing? You know, "the thing"?

— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) November 19, 2017

He stated “intergenerational conflict must be resolved,” a reference to his apparent positioning of his unpopular 52-year-old wife to succeed him.

In his speech, Mugabe said “failures of the past” may have triggered anger “in some quarters, which he calls “quite understandable”.

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