HARARE – Zanu PF’s central committee will today meet to accept the
resolutions made by the party’s provincial coordinating committees to
recall President Robert Mugabe from the party, the Daily News on Sunday
can report.
The central committee, which is Zanu PF’s highest decision making body
between congresses, will also recommend the expulsion of First Lady Grace
Mugabe from her post as the women’s league secretary.
Also in the firing line, sources said, are the party’s political commissar
Saviour Kasukuwere and Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan
Moyo.
State media reported late last night that Mugabe is also expected to meet
with the command element of the ZDF today.
As pressure mounts on Mugabe, the international community has also called
for a speedy return to civilian rule, amid indications that Mugabe could
be kicked out anytime.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for a return to civilian rule
in Zimbabwe, saying the southern African country must hold free and fair
elections in the wake of signs that Mugabe would be forced from power.
“We should work together for a quick return to civilian rule in that
country in accordance with their Constitution,” Tillerson said Friday at a
gathering of African Foreign ministers and diplomats at the State
Department.
He continued: “Zimbabwe has an opportunity to set itself on a new path:
one that must include democratic elections and respect for human rights.
Ultimately the people of Zimbabwe must choose their government.”
The US Embassy in Harare said in a statement on Thursday the US government
is “deeply concerned” by the actions taken by the Zimbabwean military.
“We call on the Zimbabwean military leaders to exercise restraint, respect
the rule of law, uphold the constitutionally-protected rights of all
citizens, and to quickly return the country to normalcy,” the statement
said.
Neighbouring countries will hope for a solution that does not lead to
violence with the UN also calling for a peaceful transition.
In the UK Theresa May called for “restraint on all sides” as the situation
was “fluid”.
She said government’s primary concern was the safety of UK nationals in
the former British colony, and urged expats in Harare to stay “safely at
home” until the situation becomes clearer.
The UK foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, briefed the House of Commons on
the situation in Zimbabwe.
He said the UK government has received no reports of any of the 20 000
British nationals living in Zimbabwe being injured. All embassy staff and
their families are accounted for.
“We cannot tell how developments in Zimbabwe will play out in the days
ahead and we do not know whether this marks the downfall of Mugabe or not,
and we call for calm and restraint.
Johnson claims Britain has only ever wanted self-determination for the
Zimbabwean people, while Mugabe has subverted democracy and harmed the
country’s economy.
“We will never forget the strong ties of history and friendship with that
beautiful country; accurately described as the jewel of Africa,” he told
the Commons.
The foreign secretary also called for free and fair elections to be held
as scheduled next year and said the UK would work to ensure they offer
Zimbabweans a “genuine opportunity … to decide their future”.
Russia has not condemned the military takeover, but instead affirmed its
commitment to keep its investments going.
Russian deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev said the military takeover was
unlikely to affect foreign direct investments from flowing into the
continent including the southern region.
Trutnev said he would like to look at the situation from the other side.
“In most cases, instability emerges, when people are not satisfied with
their lives. That’s why, it is necessary to attract money to the country
in order to ensure stability, to attract investors, to create new
enterprises… If the country is developing, there will be no grounds for
instability, that’s why, in order to avoid destabilisation, Zimbabwe, as
well as any other country, should simply develop its economy.”
Meanwhile, Mugame’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao has spoken out against the
military’s intervention in the country’s politics saying the army has
engineered the popular protests to disguise its coup.
Zhuwao who is currently in hiding said Mugabe has no intention of breaking
Zimbabwe’s Constitution or legitimising the apparent “coup.”
Zhuwao told the Reuters news agency that Grace is ready to die for what is
correct.
Source: https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2017/11/19/zanu-pf-meets-over-mugabe-recall
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