Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party has summoned its MPs to discuss the future of its leader, President Robert Mugabe, after a deadline for his resignation came and went on Monday.<\/p>\n
The deadline was set by Mr Mugabe’s own party, Zanu-PF.<\/p>\n
The embattled leader surprised Zimbabweans on Sunday, declaring on TV that he planned to remain as president.<\/p>\n
Zanu-PF says it backs impeachment, and proceedings could begin as soon as Tuesday when parliament meets.<\/p>\n
In a draft motion, seen by Reuters, the party blamed the president for what it called an “unprecedented economic tailspin”.<\/p>\n
The public has poured on to the streets in protest in recent days, calling for the end of Mr Mugabe’s 37-year presidency.<\/p>\n
His grip on power has weakened considerably since the country’s army intervened on Wednesday in a row over who should succeed him.<\/p>\n
The crisis began two weeks ago when the 93-year-old leader sacked his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, angering army commanders who saw it as an attempt to position his wife Grace as next president.<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe has since then seen huge street rallies demanding his immediate resignation.<\/p>\n
The protests have been backed by the influential war veterans – who fought in the conflict that led to independence from Britain in 1980.<\/p>\n
The group’s leader, Chris Mutsvangwa, on Monday called for more demonstrations against the president’s attempt to cling on to power.<\/p>\n
“We want to see his back now,” Mr Mutsvangwa said. “Mugabe, your rule is over. The emperor has no clothes. Thank you very much.”<\/p>\n
During the 20-minute address, the president, who was flanked by generals, made no mention of the pressure from his party and the public to quit.<\/p>\n
Instead, he declared that the military had done nothing wrong by seizing power and placing him under house arrest.<\/p>\n
“Whatever the pros and cons of how they [the army] went about their operation, I, as commander-in-chief, do acknowledge their concerns,” he said, in reference to the army’s move last week to take over the state broadcaster in the capital Harare.<\/p>\n
He also said “the [Zanu-PF] party congress is due in a few weeks and I will preside over its processes”.<\/p>\n
Before Mr Mugabe’s speech, Mr Mnangagwa was named as Zanu-PF’s new leader and candidate for the 2018 general elections, while Mr Mugabe’s wife was expelled.<\/p>\n
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