Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe ends speech without resigning

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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has baffled the country by ending his address on national television without announcing his resignation.

In his address from the State House, Mugabe, also flanked by army generals, acknowledged the presence of ills afflicting his party and said he would chair the ZANU-PF's congress next month to resolve the problems once and for all.

“The congress is due in a few weeks from now. I will preside over its processes, which must not be possessed by any acts calculated to undermine it or compromise the outcomes in the eyes of the public,” he announced.

Mugabe's address on national television came after the ZANU-PF's decision earlier Sunday to recall him from the position of party leader and give him until noon Monday to resign as president or face impeachment proceedings.

Zimbabwe's ruling party ZANU-PF sacked President Robert Mugabe as party leader on November 19, 2017. /AFP Photo

Mugabe said he was in agreement with the concern raised by the army generals in a meeting at State House that the infighting in the party was hurting the economy.

"Among the issues discussed [with the army generals] is that relating to our economy, which as we all know is going through a difficult patch. Of greater concern to our commanders are the well-founded fears that the lack of unity and commonness of purpose in both party and government was translating into perceptions of inattentiveness to the economy," he added.

The president said the military operation last Wednesday was triggered by concerns arising from their reading of the state of affairs in the country and the party.

"Whatever the pros and cons of the way they went about registering those concerns, I as the president of Zimbabwe and their commander-in-chief do acknowledge the issues they have drawn my attention to and I do believe that these were raised in the spirit of honesty and out of deep and patriotic concern of the stability of our nation and for the welfare of our people."

Mugabe also claimed the military operation did not amount to a threat to the country's constitutional order nor was it a challenge to his authority as head of state and government and commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe meets with General Constantino Chiwenga as Roman Catholic Priest Father Fidelis Mukonori and Minister of Justice Brigadier General Happyton Bonyongwe look on, at State House in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 19, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"The command element remained respectful, and computed within the dictates and mores of constitutionalism. True, a few incidents may have occurred here and there but these are being corrected," Mugabe said.

He said he was happy that throughout the short period of the military intervention the pillars of state remained functioning.

Mugabe also acknowledged the role played by liberation war fighters and said the party will strive to cater for their welfare and ensure their participation in strategic party and government positions.

He said the party has to return to its guiding principles as enshrined in the constitution, which must apply fairly and equitably in all situations.

People watch as Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe addresses the nation on television, at a bar in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 19, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"The era of victimization and arbitrary decisions must be put behind as we all embrace a new ethos predicated on the supreme law of our party," he said.

Thomas Dempsey, a consultant specialized in security and rule-of-law in Sub-Saharan Africa, discusses with CGTN’s Wang Guan.

Dempsey believed Mugabe is still struggle for staying in power although most of his supporters in the party have been marginalized.

Dempsey also noted the ruling party's change in this stage. In past decades, the party only did as Mugabe said, Dempsey added, "it is the first time for ZANU-PF to play a meaningful role."

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he was "baffled" by Mugabe's address to the nation.

"I am baffled. It's not just me, it's the whole nation. He's playing a game. He has let the whole nation down," Tsvangirai told reporters

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Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency