- Add new comment
- 470 views
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has made his first public appearance since the country's military took over power earlier this week.
The 93-year-old long-serving president attended a university graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University in Harare on Friday. Mugabe arrived at the fete clad in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat.
The military took over on Tuesday following the sacking of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, leaving Mugabe's wife Grace in prime position to take over as President when Mugabe retires.
Mugabe's appearance comes a day after he held talks with army chiefs on Thursday, where he reportedly refused to resign.
"They met today. He is refusing to step down. I think he is trying to buy time," said a source close to the army leadership who declined to be named.
Mugabe's motorcade was spotted exiting his private residence headed to State House, where talks initiated by diplomats from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc were held.
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation aired a video of Mugabe dressed in a navy blue blazer and grey trousers standing alongside a smiling army boss Constantino Chiwenga, clad in camouflage military fatigues.
Zimbabwe's former prime minister and long-time opponent of Mugabe Morgan Tsvangirai told the media in Harare that Mugabe must resign "in the interest of the people". He added that "a transitional mechanism" would be needed to ensure stability.
Comments
Time for another fool in Kenya to go and fool his Nyanza Resistance Movement a.k.a NRM blind followers into some death trap.
Personal greed and selfishness in the name of third liberation and need for the Presidency.
I just lost my job at Safaricom due to the acts of NASA even after voting for them on August 8th.I am very bitter with Ojinga as a person and NASA in general.
Good you are jobless your kind keep boasting to us how they employ all other tribes in Kenya
Time to go mzee putting up appearances is just postponing the inevitable.Your time has come gather up what ever remaining shreds of dignity you have and exit quietly.Your subjects have spoken finally.