Robert Mugabe at 93 gets kicked out of power today; Zimbabwe turmoil explained

Zimbabwe's President and world's oldest Head of State Robert Mugabe (93) will get impeached today.

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Robert Mugabe. Photo: Reuters

In Short

  • Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe will be impeached today.
  • All ministers have been asked to boycott meet called by Mugabe.
  • Mugabe was expected to tender his resignation on Nov 19 but he remained defiant.

Zimbabwe's ruling party is set to begin impeachment process against longtime President Robert Mugabe, the world's oldest Head of State at 93.

In addition, all government ministers have been instructed to boycott a cabinet meet called by Mugabe and instead attend the meeting slated for today at party headquarters.

The military on Monday night said the vice president he recently fired, sparking the political turmoil, will return to Zimbabwe "shortly" and has made contact with Mugabe.

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Placed under military house arrest amid fears he was positioning his wife to succeed him, warned by the ruling party's Central Committee to go or face impeachment, he stunned the country by remaining defiant in a national address recently.

Here's a timeline of Zimbabwe's political turmoil:

Nov. 6: After a campaign of public insults against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe fires his longtime deputy, later accusing him of plotting to take power via witchcraft. Mnangagwa flees the country.

Nov 13: Army commander Constantino Chiwenga issues a rare public rebuke, saying the military won't hesitate to "step in" to calm political tensions and criticizing the handling of the once-prosperous southern African nation's crumbling economy.

Nov. 14: Armored personnel carriers are seen on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. The military moves in overnight, taking control of the state-run broadcaster.

Nov. 15: The military announces that Mugabe is under house arrest and an operation has begun to arrest "criminals" around him who harmed the economy. Unpopular first lady Grace Mugabe, who many feared would replace Mnangagwa and even succeed her husband, disappears from view.

Nov. 16: State-run media publish extraordinary photos of a smiling Mugabe shaking hands with the army commander at the State House amid negotiations on the president's exit as the military tries to avoid accusations of a coup.

Nov. 17: The army, which continues to refer to Mugabe as president, allows him to make his first public appearance since house arrest. He appears at a graduation ceremony to polite applause.

Nov. 18: The bulk of the capital's roughly 1.6 million people pour into the streets in an anti-Mugabe demonstration that even days ago would have brought a police crackdown.

Nov. 19: The ruling party Central Committee expels Mugabe as party leader and tells him to step aside as president by noon Monday or face impeachment. In a speech on national television, he does not announce his resignation as expected.

Nov. 20: The ruling party's Central Committee says it will begin impeachment proceedings when Parliament resumes Tuesday, while Mugabe calls a Cabinet meeting for the same day. The military says Mugabe and Mnangagwa have made contact and will talk when the fired deputy returns to Zimbabwe "shortly."