Zimbabwe: Mugabe calls for cabinet meeting amidst impeachment threats

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has called his cabinet for a meeting on Tuesday at his State House offices, his chief secretary said in a notice, the same day ruling party members plan to impeach him.  This is the first time the ministers are set to meet for their routine weekly meeting with Mugabe since the […]

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has called his cabinet for a meeting on Tuesday at his State House offices, his chief secretary said in a notice, the same day ruling party members plan to impeach him. 

This is the first time the ministers are set to meet for their routine weekly meeting with Mugabe since the military took power on Wednesday. Cabinet meetings are usually held at Munhumutapa Building in the centre of town, but an armoured vehicle and armed soldiers are camped outside the offices. 

The ruling Zanu-PF party is set to begin impeachment proceedings against Mugabe on charges that include allowing his wife “to usurp constitutional power”.

The motion is now due to be presented to parliament on Tuesday.

Senior party member Paul Mangwana said the process could take as little as two days to complete, and President Mugabe could be removed by Wednesday.

A deadline set by Zanu-PF for his resignation passed on Monday.

Meanwhile, General Constantino Chiwenga, head of the armed forces and leader of the takeover codenamed “Operation Restore Legacy”, told a media conference he was encouraged by contact between Mugabe and former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa who would be back in the country soon.

“Thereafter, the nation will be advised on the outcome of talks between the two,” he said, reading from a statement.