Zimbabwe: Mugabe has a role to play, says mediator

Robert Mugabe will continue to have a role to play in Zimbabwean politics, the Jesuit priest who helped negotiate his resignation has told the BBC. Father Fidelis Mukonori said he would provide “advice” as an elder statesman, including to the new president. Mr Mugabe, 93, resigned on Tuesday after a military intervention and days of […]

Robert Mugabe will continue to have a role to play in Zimbabwean politics, the Jesuit priest who helped negotiate his resignation has told the BBC.

Father Fidelis Mukonori said he would provide “advice” as an elder statesman, including to the new president.

Mr Mugabe, 93, resigned on Tuesday after a military intervention and days of mass protests.

Mr Mukonori said he could not confirm reports that the ex-leader was granted $10m to ease him out of office.

On Friday, Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in to replace Mr Mugabe as president.

Mr Mnangagwa, long a close ally of Mr Mugabe, was sacked earlier this month, triggering the crisis that eventually saw his boss’s downfall.

Father Mukonori, 70, who is close to Mugabe and acted as a mediator between him and the military, said the new president would go to his predecessor for political counsel.