Robert Mugabe Statement

0:00:22 > 0:00:29I'm Ben Brown in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, where very shortly,

0:00:29 > 0:00:32we're expecting the country's veteran leader, Robert Mugabe,

0:00:32 > 0:00:35to make a live TV address and announce that he's stepped down

0:00:35 > 0:00:45from the presidency.

0:00:48 > 0:00:51ZBC have been trailing for the last few hours that he is making an

0:00:51 > 0:00:54address to the nation and there have been reports that he is going to

0:00:54 > 0:01:02resign. Writers have been saying he has agreed to submit his resignation

0:01:02 > 0:01:05as President. -- Reuters. But we're still waiting to see whether that

0:01:05 > 0:01:12happens. This afternoon, he has been negotiating with generals here in

0:01:12 > 0:01:17Zimbabwe. He has been discussing, as he has done ever since that military

0:01:17 > 0:01:22takeover on Wednesday, with them, whether he should cling to office.

0:01:22 > 0:01:27He has been trying to cling to office. And here we are now, with

0:01:27 > 0:01:34pictures from ZBC, a momentous event now for the whole of Zimbabwe, will

0:01:34 > 0:01:41he resign as President after 37 years? Or will he not? We are about

0:01:41 > 0:01:49to hear from Robert Mugabe himself at last. An extraordinary moment for

0:01:49 > 0:01:56this country, the whole country waiting and watching to see what

0:01:56 > 0:02:02happens. He has already been deposed by his own party. Will he go as

0:02:02 > 0:02:07President?

0:02:13 > 0:02:19C an now from Robert Mugabe. -- let us hear now.

0:02:42 > 0:02:49Fellows about wins. I -- Zimbabweans. I address you tonight

0:02:49 > 0:02:55on the back of a meeting I held today with the nation's security

0:02:55 > 0:03:14forces command element. This meeting, which was facilitated by a

0:03:14 > 0:03:22mediating team, followed an operation mounted by the Sinbad Way

0:03:22 > 0:03:28defence forces -- Zimbabwe defence forces in the week that has gone by,

0:03:28 > 0:03:34and which was triggered by concerns arising from the reading of the

0:03:34 > 0:03:40state of affairs in our country and in the rulings -- the ruling Zanu-PF

0:03:40 > 0:03:50party. Whatever the pros and cons, the way they went about registering

0:03:50 > 0:03:58those concerns, I is the President of Zimbabwe, and as their

0:03:58 > 0:04:03Commander-in-Chief, do acknowledge the issues they have drawn my

0:04:03 > 0:04:11attention to. And I do believe that these were raised in the spirit of

0:04:11 > 0:04:20honesty and out of deep anti-patriotic concern for the

0:04:20 > 0:04:28stability of our nation. -- deep and patriotic concern. As I address you,

0:04:28 > 0:04:37I am also aware of a whole range of concerns which have come from you

0:04:37 > 0:04:48all as citizens of our great country.

0:04:50 > 0:04:56Today's meeting with the command element has underscored the need for

0:04:56 > 0:05:08us to collectively start processes that return our nation to normalcy.

0:05:08 > 0:05:16So, all our people can go about their business unhindered in an

0:05:16 > 0:05:24environment of perfect peace and security, assured that law and order

0:05:24 > 0:05:37will prevail as before, and endure well into the future. If there is

0:05:37 > 0:05:41anyone, any one observation we have made and drawn from events of the

0:05:41 > 0:05:51past week, it is the unshakeable pedestal upon which rests our state

0:05:51 > 0:06:03of peace, law and order, amply indicating that as Zimbabwe ends, we

0:06:03 > 0:06:13are generally a peaceably disposed people, and given to expressing

0:06:13 > 0:06:16grievances and resolving our differences by ourselves, and with

0:06:16 > 0:06:23the level of dignity, discipline of restraint so rare to many other

0:06:23 > 0:06:38nations. This is to be admired. Indeed, such traits must form the

0:06:38 > 0:06:44pith of our personality and national character. A veritable resource we

0:06:44 > 0:06:53summon and draw upon in times of vices are dudes. -- vicissitudes.

0:06:53 > 0:07:00The opposition I have alluded to did not amount to a threat to our well

0:07:00 > 0:07:06cherished constitutional order. Nor was it a challenge to my authority

0:07:06 > 0:07:14as head of state and government. Not even as Commander-in-Chief of the

0:07:14 > 0:07:23Zimbabwe defence forces. To the man, the command element remained

0:07:23 > 0:07:36respectful. And comported with the dictates and moors of

0:07:36 > 0:07:47constitutionalism. True, a few incidents may have occurred here and

0:07:47 > 0:07:51there, but these are being corrected. I'm happy that throughout

0:07:51 > 0:08:01the short period, the pillars of state remained functional. Even

0:08:01 > 0:08:10happier for me and arising from today's meeting in a strong sense,

0:08:10 > 0:08:31is a strong sense of collegiality and comradeship. This should redound

0:08:31 > 0:08:43to greater peace and an abiding sense of security in communities and

0:08:43 > 0:08:57in our entire nation. Among the issues discussed is that relating to

0:08:57 > 0:09:07our economy, which as we all know is going through a difficult patch. Our

0:09:07 > 0:09:18great concern...

0:09:32 > 0:09:43I beg your pardon. Of greater concern is spats between

0:09:43 > 0:09:48high-ranking officials in the party and government, exacerbated by

0:09:48 > 0:09:55multiple conflicting messages from both the party and government, major

0:09:55 > 0:10:06criticisms levelled against us inescapable. Amidst all this,

0:10:06 > 0:10:12flagship projects already adopted by government stood stalled, or mired

0:10:12 > 0:10:21in needless controversy. All this now has to stop, as we inaugurate a

0:10:21 > 0:10:29new work culture, and pace at which will show a strong sense of purpose

0:10:29 > 0:10:43and commitment to turning around our economy in terms of our policies.

0:10:43 > 0:10:51The government remains committed to improving the social and material

0:10:51 > 0:11:06conditions. Material conditions of the people. The government will soon

0:11:06 > 0:11:11unveil an entrepreneurial skills and business development programme,

0:11:11 > 0:11:19which will empower and unleash gainful projects at our growth

0:11:19 > 0:11:27points and growth areas. Zimbabweans, we are a nation born

0:11:27 > 0:11:34out of a protracted struggle for national independence. Our rules

0:11:34 > 0:11:45like in that struggle whose goals and ideals must guide our present

0:11:45 > 0:11:51and structure our future. The tradition of resistance is our

0:11:51 > 0:12:03collective legacy, whose core tenets must be subscribed by all across

0:12:03 > 0:12:11generations and across times. Indeed, these two -- this also was a

0:12:11 > 0:12:18great concern for our commanders, who themselves were natives of that

0:12:18 > 0:12:23revolution and often Bradbury tender ages and at great personal peril. We

0:12:23 > 0:12:31still have in our various communities veterans of that funding

0:12:31 > 0:12:42struggle. Who might have found that the prevailing management of

0:12:42 > 0:12:47national and party issues quite alienating. This must be corrected

0:12:47 > 0:12:56without delay, including ensuring that these veterans continue to play

0:12:56 > 0:13:08central roles in the lives of our nation. We must all recognise that

0:13:08 > 0:13:19their participation in the war of liberation exacted lifelong costs.

0:13:19 > 0:13:32Which whilst hardly repayable may still be assuaged and ameliorative.

0:13:32 > 0:13:39-- ameliorated. In respect of the party, and the party issues raised

0:13:39 > 0:13:43both by the commanders and by the general membership of Zanu-PF, there

0:13:43 > 0:13:55are also stand acknowledged. They have to be attended to with a great

0:13:55 > 0:14:04sense of urgency. However, I am aware that as a party of liberation,

0:14:04 > 0:14:12Zanu-PF has over the years written elaborate rules and procedures that

0:14:12 > 0:14:23guide the operations of all its organs and personnel. Indeed, the

0:14:23 > 0:14:32current criticism raised, raised against the command element...

0:14:32 > 0:14:39Raised against it by the command element and some of its members have

0:14:39 > 0:14:46a reason from well funding perception that the party was

0:14:46 > 0:14:55stretching or even failing in its own rules and procedures. -- well

0:14:55 > 0:15:07funded perception. The way forward, thus, cannot be based on swapping,

0:15:07 > 0:15:14or riding roughshod over party rules and procedures. There has to be a

0:15:14 > 0:15:22net return to the guiding principles of our party, as enshrined in its

0:15:22 > 0:15:33constitution. Which must apply fairly and equitably in all

0:15:33 > 0:15:42situations and before all members. The era of victimisation and

0:15:42 > 0:15:57arbitrary decisions must be put behind. As we all embrace a new

0:15:57 > 0:16:04ethos, predicated on the supreme rule of our party, and nourished by

0:16:04 > 0:16:16an abiding sense of camaraderie. To all this must be general recognition

0:16:16 > 0:16:29that Zanu-PF is a party of traditions, and has been served by

0:16:29 > 0:16:38successive generations who are bound together by shared ideals and

0:16:38 > 0:16:53values, which must continue to reign supreme in our nation.

0:16:57 > 0:17:04Intergenerational conflict must be resolved through harmonised melding

0:17:04 > 0:17:16of old established players, as they embrace and welcome new rules, new

0:17:16 > 0:17:26ones through a well-defined sense of hierarchy and succession. Indeed,

0:17:26 > 0:17:35all these matters will be discussed and settled at the forthcoming

0:17:35 > 0:17:42congress, within the framework of a clear road map that seeks to resolve

0:17:42 > 0:17:51once and for all any missions or contradictions -- omissions that

0:17:51 > 0:18:05have affected our party negatively. The Congress is due in a few weeks

0:18:05 > 0:18:11from now. I will preside over its processes, which must not be

0:18:11 > 0:18:21pre-possessed by any acts calculated to undermine it, or to compromise

0:18:21 > 0:18:28the outcomes in the eyes of the public. As I conclude this address,

0:18:28 > 0:18:37I am aware that many developments have occurred in the party, or have

0:18:37 > 0:18:44been championed and done by individuals in the name of the

0:18:44 > 0:18:53party. Given the failings of the past, and the anger this might have

0:18:53 > 0:19:03triggered in some quarters, such as developments... Such developments

0:19:03 > 0:19:13are quite understandable. However we cannot be guided by bitterness or

0:19:13 > 0:19:26vengefulness, both of which would not make us any better party members

0:19:26 > 0:19:40or any better Zimbabweans. Our hallowed policy of re-conciliation

0:19:40 > 0:19:45was pronounced in 1980, and through which we reached out to those who

0:19:45 > 0:19:56had occupied and oppressed us for nearly a century. And those who had

0:19:56 > 0:20:09traded fire with in a bitter war. Surely they cannot be unavailable to

0:20:09 > 0:20:18our own, both in the party and in our nation. We must learn to forgive

0:20:18 > 0:20:31and resolve contradictions, real or perceived, in a comradely,

0:20:31 > 0:20:37Zimbabwean spirit. I am confident that from tonight, our whole nation,

0:20:37 > 0:20:48at all levels, gets refocused as we put shoulder to the wheel amidst the

0:20:48 > 0:20:57promising agricultural season already upon us. Let us all move

0:20:57 > 0:21:13forward, reminding ourselves of our wartime mantra. I think you, and

0:21:13 > 0:21:16good night. -- thank U.

0:21:30 > 0:21:37It is a long speech. APPLAUSE

0:21:50 > 0:21:59OK, thanks. Robert Mugabe with an absolutely

0:21:59 > 0:22:04extraordinary speech to the nation. It was expected that he would

0:22:04 > 0:22:09announce his resignation, but he has not done that. It was a lawn and

0:22:09 > 0:22:15typically rambling address to the nation from Robert Mugabe. -- long.

0:22:15 > 0:22:18He was flanked by some of the generals he has been negotiating

0:22:18 > 0:22:21with. It had been reported he would announce his resignation, but he has

0:22:21 > 0:22:26not done that. Let us take you through a few of the things. This

0:22:26 > 0:22:31was after a day of extraordinary pressure on him, in which he was

0:22:31 > 0:22:35dismissed by his own party, Zanu-PF, and they then gave him an ultimatum

0:22:35 > 0:22:39that if he didn't resign by midday tomorrow, he was effectively going

0:22:39 > 0:22:43to be forced out of office by an impeachment process that will now

0:22:43 > 0:22:47begin, because he is not going. He talked about the military takeover

0:22:47 > 0:22:56that there has been here, he said he believed the takeover had been

0:22:56 > 0:22:59undertaken out of honesty and patriotic concern for the stability

0:22:59 > 0:23:03of our nation. Slightly incredibly, he said he did not believe that

0:23:03 > 0:23:09military takeover was an attempt to undermine his authority as head of

0:23:09 > 0:23:13state. Not a challenge to my authority as head of state, he said

0:23:13 > 0:23:17that we cannot be guided by bitterness or vengefulness, we must

0:23:17 > 0:23:23learn to forgive and resolve contradictions. That is move

0:23:23 > 0:23:28forward. So, lots of generalities, frankly a lot of waffle, to be

0:23:28 > 0:23:33honest, from President Mugabe, he is still President of this country for

0:23:33 > 0:23:37the time being at least, but maybe not for very much longer. He has

0:23:37 > 0:23:44been deposed as party leader, deposed as the leader of Zanu-PF,

0:23:44 > 0:23:49but he is still technically President until either he resigns

0:23:49 > 0:23:52from office, which he has steadfastly refused to do, against

0:23:52 > 0:23:58all expectations, and despite the pressure on him from the people with

0:23:58 > 0:24:02their demonstration yesterday, with the Army and from Zanu-PF itself, he

0:24:02 > 0:24:07is staying put, it seems. Let us get some reaction to that speech from

0:24:07 > 0:24:14one of the people who demonstrated yesterday here in Harare. She is an

0:24:14 > 0:24:20offer and a neurosurgeon here. -- she is on offer. You might yesterday

0:24:20 > 0:24:23demanding he stood done, what did you think of that speech?It is

0:24:23 > 0:24:28interesting, for many of us who are a little older, Mugabe came onto the

0:24:28 > 0:24:31international stage in 1980 with an incredibly eloquent speech, we will

0:24:31 > 0:24:36-- we were very proud and it is interesting he should go out of the

0:24:36 > 0:24:41stage with and also eloquent speech. But he hasn't gone out of the stage,

0:24:41 > 0:24:45he hasn't resign.We are entering a post McGothigan Europe. Whatever the

0:24:45 > 0:24:50speech was tonight, if you saw what happened on the streets yesterday,

0:24:50 > 0:24:56both at the war veterans' mass rally and on the streets of Zimbabwe,

0:24:56 > 0:25:00people were buoyant, we are entering an area -- an era of inclusivity. We

0:25:00 > 0:25:05can never go back.By people were reporting he would say in this

0:25:05 > 0:25:10address on TV, I resign as President, I resign out head of

0:25:10 > 0:25:14state.I think there is a tricky element here, which is that on the

0:25:14 > 0:25:16one hand there must be any appearance of coercion on the part

0:25:16 > 0:25:26of the military. And I think perhaps flanked by the generals, resignation

0:25:26 > 0:25:30may have been perceived by that way. I think what is happening right now

0:25:30 > 0:25:36in Zanu-PF is a political process and a political solution. We are

0:25:36 > 0:25:40entering a post-Mugabe era. I hope Zimbabweans are not deflated by

0:25:40 > 0:25:44this. They must know we have began a process that will move forward.But

0:25:44 > 0:25:48they will be deflated because you know that the expectation that was

0:25:48 > 0:25:53raised with that demonstration here that you took part in, they demanded

0:25:53 > 0:26:00his resignation and they thought they would get it tonight.Like I

0:26:00 > 0:26:02said, I think people will feel deflated, but the spirit was

0:26:02 > 0:26:05incredible, the demands where there, but Zimbabweans are so patient, this

0:26:05 > 0:26:10is our kind of coup, or not coup, it is our kind of process and I really

0:26:10 > 0:26:16don't think there is any doubt that Mugabe will go.Is he going to be

0:26:16 > 0:26:20impeached now? That is what Zanu-PF have said, if he doesn't go by

0:26:20 > 0:26:27midday tomorrow, local time, the Parliament will start impeaching him

0:26:27 > 0:26:31straightaway.I think that political process has already begun. You have

0:26:31 > 0:26:37ten out of ten provinces casting a no vote, he was removed as head of

0:26:37 > 0:26:40the party, it is just a matter of another final hurdle before he is

0:26:40 > 0:26:44impeached.He is pretty stubborn, all this pressure, and the party and

0:26:44 > 0:26:50the army, the people and still he will not go.37 years of power, I

0:26:50 > 0:26:55don't think it has even sunk in psychologically, there was not real

0:26:55 > 0:26:59cognition that he is no longer in power. The military intervention, he

0:26:59 > 0:27:03said, was not a challenge to his authority. There is no sense of

0:27:03 > 0:27:08that. I think the only way it will come is through the political

0:27:08 > 0:27:15process through Zanu-PF.If I have heard it said he really believes he

0:27:15 > 0:27:17should die in office, die as President, that is what he has

0:27:17 > 0:27:25already assumed. He is just not prepared to stand down.We have 14

0:27:25 > 0:27:28million people who deserve to have a fresh voice, they deserve something

0:27:28 > 0:27:34better. So it is not about what Mugabe wants, to die in office, I

0:27:34 > 0:27:37think the world would agree that is a completely unrealistic

0:27:37 > 0:27:42expectation. And our country cannot be held hostage by the dreams of a

0:27:42 > 0:27:46single human being.If he doesn't go, will people march again like

0:27:46 > 0:27:51they did yesterday? We saw so many people on the streets, there was a

0:27:51 > 0:27:55euphoric atmosphere.It was a euphoric atmosphere. But winds have

0:27:55 > 0:28:02lost their voice and they found it. On the streets were blacks and

0:28:02 > 0:28:06whites, farmers, maids, gardeners, people from all stripes. It is not

0:28:06 > 0:28:09necessary, I think, for us to march again, I think the message has been

0:28:09 > 0:28:19heard. People heard cars.Mr Mugabe didn't hear it you, it seems! Is a

0:28:19 > 0:28:30-- people heard cars. Good to talk to you. A demonstrator yesterday and

0:28:30 > 0:28:35maybe a demonstrator again. Let's go to Milton Nkosi. He is in

0:28:35 > 0:28:39Johannesburg. I know you have met Robert Mugabe down the years, you

0:28:39 > 0:28:45have followed his career closely. What do you make of this speech?

0:28:45 > 0:28:49Pretty bizarre, wasn't it? Pretty rambling. Anyone who was hoping he

0:28:49 > 0:28:53won't resign, and it is very to say there were millions who were hoping

0:28:53 > 0:28:59that, will be disappointed.Yes indeed. I hate to say it, but last

0:28:59 > 0:29:07time you and I spoke, I said this guy will fight until the last drop.

0:29:07 > 0:29:15They do not come top than this in life. The writing is on the wall. If

0:29:15 > 0:29:19military officers in fatigues pushing the papers next to him, and

0:29:19 > 0:29:25still there is no resignation. Robert Mugabe will not give in until

0:29:25 > 0:29:29he is impeached. There is no other way now, it is quite clear that he

0:29:29 > 0:29:42is holding the line, that he has been holding all week.So, Milton,

0:29:42 > 0:29:47there was so much expectation, I suppose. How disappointed do you

0:29:47 > 0:29:52think ordinary Zimbabweans are going to be, having heard this address

0:29:52 > 0:29:56from President Mugabe after all the heady atmosphere of a rally

0:29:56 > 0:30:01yesterday, the drama of the military takeover, the drama of Zanu-PF

0:30:01 > 0:30:05stripping him of his party leadership, and all of this in a

0:30:05 > 0:30:11sense might be an anti-climax this evening?

0:30:11 > 0:30:16It is a colossal disappointment. I think across not just Zimbabwe but

0:30:16 > 0:30:18the African continent, and indeed across the world, where people

0:30:18 > 0:30:23thought that Robert Mugabe would do the right thing, he has again stood

0:30:23 > 0:30:31his ground and decided that he wants to die in office. He's only got one

0:30:31 > 0:30:37thing in mind. He's going nowhere, as far as he is concerned. It was

0:30:37 > 0:30:42quite interesting, just watching all the people in the room. There was no

0:30:42 > 0:30:46sign of Mrs Grace Mugabe, the person who actually triggered the sequence

0:30:46 > 0:30:50of events we have been following in the last few days. She was nowhere

0:30:50 > 0:30:55to be seen and I wonder where she was watching this speech from. I

0:30:55 > 0:31:00wonder if she had anything to do with it, given that the president

0:31:00 > 0:31:05did not resign, following all the drama we saw today. Robert Mugabe is

0:31:05 > 0:31:09still the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

0:31:17 > 0:31:24And what think next now for Zimbabwe? Inevitable there will be

0:31:24 > 0:31:29impeachment. We are hearing from the war veterans leader, who has been a

0:31:29 > 0:31:34leading voice in the campaign to get rid of Mugabe that the impeachment

0:31:34 > 0:31:39process will now begin, as promised by Zanu-PF, who said if he hadn't

0:31:39 > 0:31:42resigned by midday tomorrow, impeachment would be inevitable. Is

0:31:42 > 0:31:48that the way you see it?There are many options. Robert Mugabe is

0:31:48 > 0:31:54hoping he will be presiding, as he said, over the Congress when it

0:31:54 > 0:32:01happens in December. But we know that Zanu-PF members can't wait for

0:32:01 > 0:32:04Tuesday, when Parliament reconvenes, and that's where they will impeach

0:32:04 > 0:32:09him, following their 12 o'clock deadline on Monday. But also, we saw

0:32:09 > 0:32:15that this whole progress was started by the military. It is now the

0:32:15 > 0:32:20chance that the people of Zimbabwe to lead this process. I think the

0:32:20 > 0:32:26military is slightly taking a back seat here. They are not trying to

0:32:26 > 0:32:31put the gun to the head of the president, because they want this

0:32:31 > 0:32:35constitutionally arranged removal from power. So, if the people pour

0:32:35 > 0:32:39out on the streets without being urged by the military, that will be

0:32:39 > 0:32:45a change of approach. But we know that by midday tomorrow he will have

0:32:45 > 0:32:53missed the deadline and impeach -- impeachment proceedings will begin.

0:32:53 > 0:32:59In as far as the region is concerned, they will continue with

0:32:59 > 0:33:02their meeting in Rwanda. I think it is even more important for President

0:33:02 > 0:33:09Jacob Zuma to go to Rwanda to talk about the crisis unfolding in

0:33:09 > 0:33:18Zimbabwe.Thank you very much, our Southern African respondent. We can

0:33:18 > 0:33:25now speak to a member of Zanu-PF, the London representative.

0:33:25 > 0:33:31Thank you for being with us. What is your reaction to the news that he is

0:33:31 > 0:33:37refusing to go, against perhaps many people's expectations and hopes?I

0:33:37 > 0:33:41watched the speech with utter disappointment. President Mugabe has

0:33:41 > 0:33:47just rained on Zimbabwe's parade, really. I think everybody, every one

0:33:47 > 0:33:54of my compatriots is downcast, pretty much heartbroken. I am very

0:33:54 > 0:34:00sad, because what will happen from here now is that humiliation of

0:34:00 > 0:34:03President Mugabe, big-time humiliation, which is something

0:34:03 > 0:34:08throughout the week I was saying we don't need. It is very sad, because

0:34:08 > 0:34:15when the evidence of... When the impeachment evidence comes, it will

0:34:15 > 0:34:18be very, very embarrassing and humiliating and we didn't need to

0:34:18 > 0:34:25drag him through this mud but he has asked for it. As far as he's

0:34:25 > 0:34:30concerned, he will preside over Congress in December. That is

0:34:30 > 0:34:34ridiculous! Which Congress? As far as we are concerned, he is no longer

0:34:34 > 0:34:39president of our party. He is done. The Central committee has made a

0:34:39 > 0:34:48decision, he's gone. All ten of them made the decision he has gone. Who

0:34:48 > 0:34:52does he represent, or whose interests, which constitutes does he

0:34:52 > 0:34:55represent Christ on the military says he has gone. At the moment they

0:34:55 > 0:35:01are just holding on to the title of Commander-in-Chief because... He

0:35:01 > 0:35:07hasn't stepped down formally. But in terms of authority, he doesn't hold

0:35:07 > 0:35:12authority over anybody. All he has is an office but absolutely no

0:35:12 > 0:35:16authority. I don't know what he's playing at. As far as Zanu-PF is

0:35:16 > 0:35:23concerned, we have a new leader, the leader appointed today, Emmerson

0:35:23 > 0:35:29Mnangagwa. That is it. Come Congress, Zanu-PF will confirm a new

0:35:29 > 0:35:35leader. The nation has to do what it has to do. Impeachment has to start

0:35:35 > 0:35:44on Tuesday. The opposition and Zanu-PF are agreed on this, the

0:35:44 > 0:35:52president has to step down.About that impeachment... Just tell us,

0:35:52 > 0:35:57how quickly do you think that impeachment process will take? How

0:35:57 > 0:36:01long will it take? Could he be gone within a few days? What is your

0:36:01 > 0:36:07estimate?I think by the end of the week. What has to happen is the

0:36:07 > 0:36:13committee has to be set in place to investigate the allegations, and

0:36:13 > 0:36:16that it has to report back and then people have to vote on it. That is

0:36:16 > 0:36:21pretty much the process. It might not happen overnight, it might take

0:36:21 > 0:36:24a few days. It depends on the cooperation of all the parties,

0:36:24 > 0:36:32anyway. Are you surprised that Robert Mugabe

0:36:32 > 0:36:36has refused to resign? People have always said he is a stubborn man,

0:36:36 > 0:36:41he's a fighter, he's not the sort of man who just gives in to pressure.

0:36:41 > 0:36:45So in many ways, perhaps we shouldn't have been surprised he

0:36:45 > 0:36:51refused to resign.In an interview this afternoon those were my words,

0:36:51 > 0:36:56he is a stubborn man, you cannot second-guess him. When the address

0:36:56 > 0:37:01was announced I thought, OK, he has relented. But I think he is someone

0:37:01 > 0:37:08who I think is going to fight to the death. He can't do it himself. He

0:37:08 > 0:37:14will be 94 in three months, 94 years, and you still want to fight

0:37:14 > 0:37:20for your term to take it to 99, 100... Come on. You saw how he was

0:37:20 > 0:37:26when he was giving that speech, he was rumbling. We have tried to

0:37:26 > 0:37:31respect, but even our African mentality cannot take it this far.

0:37:31 > 0:37:38We respect our elders and seniority, but this time round I think... It is

0:37:38 > 0:37:45testing Zimbabweans' patients, testing all the patience of the

0:37:45 > 0:37:50country.I want to ask you, how angry do you think Zimbabweans will

0:37:50 > 0:37:54be? We saw that extraordinary demonstration here in Harare

0:37:54 > 0:37:57yesterday, so many thousands on the streets, euphoric celebrations

0:37:57 > 0:38:03because they thought a that it effectively they had toppled him.

0:38:03 > 0:38:07Will they be disappointed and also angry? We're hearing there is a call

0:38:07 > 0:38:10from the war veterans leader for them to take to the streets again on

0:38:10 > 0:38:19Wednesday.I will start by talking about myself. I am extremely angry,

0:38:19 > 0:38:23so if my sentiments and my feelings reflect that of many Zimbabweans,

0:38:23 > 0:38:29it's even worse. I am so disappointed. I represented his

0:38:29 > 0:38:35interest here, I have defended him all the way, and I expected this to

0:38:35 > 0:38:43happen in a very dignified way, to put a closure to what you could call

0:38:43 > 0:38:45an illustrious political career. But no, he's going to be remembered by

0:38:45 > 0:38:53how he went, not by what he stood for. This is the death of his

0:38:53 > 0:38:57legacy, and we never hoped that this day would come. We hoped to remember

0:38:57 > 0:39:02him for certain things, look at the positives and say, OK, he was a

0:39:02 > 0:39:08human being, he made mistakes but he was sincere. Yes, sincerely wrong,

0:39:08 > 0:39:15but sincere all the same. Now this, this idea of taking the whole

0:39:15 > 0:39:19country with him to the grave is wrong, absolutely wrong. There is no

0:39:19 > 0:39:24justification for it on no excuse he gives excuses he is going to

0:39:24 > 0:39:29re-form, going to put the country together, going to bring harmony in

0:39:29 > 0:39:35his Cabinet. He can't do it, because... This conflict within

0:39:35 > 0:39:42government has been happening for the last few years and most of them,

0:39:42 > 0:39:46it was suspected that he was the one engineering it. It's not going to

0:39:46 > 0:39:56happen. So he has to go. He is not the Zanu-PF leader, that's it.When

0:39:56 > 0:40:03he talks about the military takeover that there has been not being a

0:40:03 > 0:40:09threat to his authority as head of state... I have to say, speaking

0:40:09 > 0:40:13personally, it seems like he is living in a parallel universe

0:40:13 > 0:40:16because a military takeover was an absolute threat to his authority as

0:40:16 > 0:40:22head of state stop your absolutely. What the military tried to do was to

0:40:22 > 0:40:29say, OK, you have an infrastructure which sustains your power. We want

0:40:29 > 0:40:32to hold that infrastructure so that people express themselves. So your

0:40:32 > 0:40:36body can express itself, as well. What we saw on Friday was the party

0:40:36 > 0:40:44expressing itself through the provinces in coordinating

0:40:44 > 0:40:48committees. What we saw on Saturday was the people of Zimbabwe

0:40:48 > 0:40:54expressing themselves. And what we saw today was the biggest organ of

0:40:54 > 0:40:56the party and the most powerful organ of the party expressing

0:40:56 > 0:41:05itself. And against all that, what we have seen just a few minutes ago

0:41:05 > 0:41:08was President Mugabe remaining defiant to his people, defiant to

0:41:08 > 0:41:16his party, defiant to Zimbabweans and only studied at defying the

0:41:16 > 0:41:20military, his commanders, only listening to himself. Himself and

0:41:20 > 0:41:28the voices in his head, which is very, very unfortunate.OK, thank

0:41:28 > 0:41:34you so much for your time and your instant reaction to that speech from

0:41:34 > 0:41:38Robert Mugabe, who is still president of Zimbabwe against all

0:41:38 > 0:41:42odds and all the expectations. He has not said that he is resigning.

0:41:42 > 0:41:48Let us move forward, he said, and he didn't believe in his address. He

0:41:48 > 0:41:52said the military takeover was in any sort of threat to his authority.

0:41:52 > 0:41:57Well, the calls for his impeachment now are intensifying. We have

0:41:57 > 0:42:03already heard from the War Veterans Association, who organised the

0:42:03 > 0:42:07demonstration here yesterday, that the impeachment process will begin

0:42:07 > 0:42:11pretty much straightaway as a result of Mr Mugabe refusing to resign.

0:42:11 > 0:42:18Let's listen to on X out of that long, rambling television address.

0:42:22 > 0:42:33... Generation conflict must be resolved through harmonised melding

0:42:33 > 0:42:44of old, established players as they embrace and welcome new rules. New

0:42:44 > 0:42:55ones through a well-defined sense of hierarchy and succession. Indeed,

0:42:55 > 0:43:04all these matters will be discussed and settled at the forthcoming

0:43:04 > 0:43:12congress, within the framework of a clear road map that seeks to resolve

0:43:12 > 0:43:22once and for all any omissions or contradictions which have affected

0:43:22 > 0:43:33our party negatively. The Congress is due in a few weeks

0:43:33 > 0:43:42from now. I will preside over the process which must not be

0:43:42 > 0:43:49repossessed by any acts calculated to undermine it ought to compromise

0:43:49 > 0:43:55the outcomes in the eyes of the public.

0:43:55 > 0:43:58That was just an excerpt of President Mugabe's rather

0:43:58 > 0:44:04extraordinary address to the nation this evening, in what was billed by

0:44:04 > 0:44:07some as the resignation speech of Robert Mugabe, after 37 years in

0:44:07 > 0:44:13power. It wasn't that. It was a rather defiant speech. He is

0:44:13 > 0:44:17clinging to office. His opponents, and there are plenty of them in this

0:44:17 > 0:44:22country, are now saying the impeachment process will begin in

0:44:22 > 0:44:26the Zimbabwean parliament, probably on Tuesday. The two chambers of the

0:44:26 > 0:44:30parliament will need a two thirds majority in each chamber to impeach

0:44:30 > 0:44:34him, to effectively kicked him out of office. That process will begin

0:44:34 > 0:44:40in the coming days. Let's get the analysis now of a Zimbabwean

0:44:40 > 0:44:43academic and author. We were talking to you earlier on and you were

0:44:43 > 0:44:46saying you didn't think he would resign and you were absolutely

0:44:46 > 0:44:58right, he hasn't. Two things... First, people from the

0:44:58 > 0:45:03outset insisted it wasn't a coup, insisted Robert Mugabe was head of

0:45:03 > 0:45:08state, throughout.They want him to go, to resign?Ambivalence has

0:45:08 > 0:45:12caught them out, in my view. The second thing is you have the

0:45:12 > 0:45:21individual chairman of the South African Minister, meeting on Tuesday

0:45:21 > 0:45:26in Angola. Yes, I think he is playing for time.He cannot survive

0:45:26 > 0:45:30in office, surely, he is going to be impeached?I don't think so, I don't

0:45:30 > 0:45:36think he will be impeached. I think given what happened today, and our

0:45:36 > 0:45:38suspicion is there where parallel processes today, the meeting at

0:45:38 > 0:45:45State house but also the Zanu-PF central meeting. What he said today,

0:45:45 > 0:45:51the emphasis that these special congress would determine what

0:45:51 > 0:45:54happens in the party means ipso facto what happened today is null

0:45:54 > 0:46:01and void.We saw so many people here yesterday on the streets,

0:46:01 > 0:46:04demonstrating in huge numbers, celebrating because they thought

0:46:04 > 0:46:07they had got rid of Robert Mugabe but they haven't. They are going to

0:46:07 > 0:46:14be furious and they, angry?We will see. I think he is playing for time,

0:46:14 > 0:46:19in my view. He is playing for time, during which time he can get

0:46:19 > 0:46:23guarantees for his safety and that of his family. He can't stand out

0:46:23 > 0:46:28for too long but in the meantime he is not resigning. I don't think the

0:46:28 > 0:46:31Central committee proceedings are anything to go by. I don't think

0:46:31 > 0:46:35even the issue of impeachment will go ahead, given what he said. It

0:46:35 > 0:46:39depends.We have heard from the War Veterans, the men who fought

0:46:39 > 0:46:43alongside him in the war of Independence. They are saying the

0:46:43 > 0:46:46impeachment process will begin now, because of that speech, because he

0:46:46 > 0:46:50didn't resign.That might be an opinion. We have to ask the

0:46:50 > 0:46:56military, the generals themselves. With whom he agreed on the speech he

0:46:56 > 0:46:59made. They were sitting there and watching him. They went through that

0:46:59 > 0:47:09speech together. So would the War Veterans or anyone else there

0:47:09 > 0:47:14overall what was said today?Did generals cannot be happy. They

0:47:14 > 0:47:21launched this military takeover, they want him gone, they want their

0:47:21 > 0:47:23man, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to replace Robert Mugabe. So far they have

0:47:23 > 0:47:28failed in that objective, surely?I don't think there is a consensus

0:47:28 > 0:47:31Emmerson Mnangagwa should come in. I don't think so. I think in many

0:47:31 > 0:47:38respects, the statement by Mugabe might reflect the broad, a broader

0:47:38 > 0:47:47discussion today to stop it might be also...People have always said he

0:47:47 > 0:47:53is a stubborn man. Is this typical Robert Mugabe?Yes, for sure, for

0:47:53 > 0:47:58sure. He will fight to the end, that's how he is. Even though the

0:47:58 > 0:48:04game is over. In my view, the game is over. For us, most of us, we are

0:48:04 > 0:48:08concerned about what happens after. But I don't think there is much to

0:48:08 > 0:48:16go.This is typical Mugabe, you would say?Yes, typical.Is it sad,

0:48:16 > 0:48:21in some ways, to see a man of his age, 93, refusing to bow out quietly

0:48:21 > 0:48:26and maybe with a bit of dignity? Yes, but also the point is people

0:48:26 > 0:48:33are forgetting... The very people who have been wanting him out, in my

0:48:33 > 0:48:43view the coup took place in 2008. When he lost the election,

0:48:43 > 0:48:48Tsvangirai and Emmerson Mnangagwa reinstalled him. He was playing with

0:48:48 > 0:48:56danger anyway. He was never on his own, ever. The guys who are sitting

0:48:56 > 0:49:02there are the ones in charge of this country, of the estate.From the War

0:49:02 > 0:49:06Veterans there has been a call for more demonstrations on Wednesday, an

0:49:06 > 0:49:10attempt to use people power of the kind we saw yesterday, to try and

0:49:10 > 0:49:15force him out of office. You don't think that will be successful?I'm

0:49:15 > 0:49:22rather cynical, because these other people... Never before. Three or

0:49:22 > 0:49:29four days people were rather removed from the scene, because they fear

0:49:29 > 0:49:35the army. It required mobilisation on Friday night to get them on the

0:49:35 > 0:49:42streets. People are nervous. People know, it's beginning to think now

0:49:42 > 0:49:45that really they are dealing with the same problems that they thought

0:49:45 > 0:49:50was over.What is the future for Zimbabwe now, more generally? People

0:49:50 > 0:49:55obviously had great hopes yesterday, those hopes, have they been

0:49:55 > 0:50:02dissipated?I don't think so. On the positive side, the Mugabe era is

0:50:02 > 0:50:05over. That is the positive. It's how we organise ourselves moving

0:50:05 > 0:50:10forward. Thank you. We are going to talk to

0:50:10 > 0:50:15our Africa editor in a moment but let me read Capcom the news that we

0:50:15 > 0:50:22have had. We had that speech from Robert Mugabe on television, on

0:50:22 > 0:50:25Zimbabwean television, said BC, which according to some reports said

0:50:25 > 0:50:30he was going to resign. Reuters news agency said he had agreed to offer

0:50:30 > 0:50:35his resignation, but that turned out not to be true. He is, as many

0:50:35 > 0:50:40people have said for a very long time, a pretty stubborn man. Our

0:50:40 > 0:50:48Africa editor joins me now here live in Harare.

0:50:48 > 0:50:51An extraordinary speech in the end from Robert Mugabe, and perhaps not

0:50:51 > 0:50:56what we were expecting?I don't think anyone expected it. I think

0:50:56 > 0:50:59the only person who didn't believe Robert Mugabe was going to resign

0:50:59 > 0:51:03his Robert Mugabe, and probably his wife, Grace Mugabe. Having watched

0:51:03 > 0:51:06what has happened over the last few days here, you have had the people

0:51:06 > 0:51:10on the streets yesterday in their tens of thousands, the Central

0:51:10 > 0:51:13committee, which he dominated for 37 years, ruling he should be removed

0:51:13 > 0:51:18from the presidency of the party, and setting in train threats to

0:51:18 > 0:51:23impeach him by next Monday. And then tonight, in spite of all of that, he

0:51:23 > 0:51:27appears on television and he says, I will preside over the party Congress

0:51:27 > 0:51:33in December, in three weeks' time. One has to stand back a bit from the

0:51:33 > 0:51:38natural sense of deflation that you get from members of the public, and

0:51:38 > 0:51:42not just people who are members of the opposition. What your previous

0:51:42 > 0:51:47guest said, it is the end of the era of Mugabe but he has managed,

0:51:47 > 0:51:51probably by playing an international card, probably by saying, look, it

0:51:51 > 0:51:56is the policy of the African union and the international community that

0:51:56 > 0:51:59leaders are not removed by coups. He has bought himself some extra time.

0:51:59 > 0:52:03But does anyone believe, given the strength of feeling in the party and

0:52:03 > 0:52:08on the streets, that he is going to end your as president of Zimbabwe

0:52:08 > 0:52:13question not know. I'm willing in terms of analysis to say no, that's

0:52:13 > 0:52:17not going to happen.You talked about frustrated the people will be.

0:52:17 > 0:52:23We saw people power on the streets in Harare. A call from the War

0:52:23 > 0:52:26Veterans to come back onto the streets on Wednesday, but it doesn't

0:52:26 > 0:52:30look like Robert Mugabe listens to the people, certainly not the people

0:52:30 > 0:52:34demonstrating yesterday demanding that he goes.It has never been his

0:52:34 > 0:52:38style, Hadzic question not listening to the people. That is not the kind

0:52:38 > 0:52:42of politics... He is a graduate of the revolutionary politics of the

0:52:42 > 0:52:4950s and 60s, trained in Leninist principles are power. You control

0:52:49 > 0:52:53party organs and the military and the security forces. The key is he

0:52:53 > 0:52:57doesn't control any of those animal. That's why I am saying to you, yes,

0:52:57 > 0:53:01tonight is a big anticlimax for many people who came onto the streets,

0:53:01 > 0:53:05but it is not the end of the story of Robert Mugabe's departure. When

0:53:05 > 0:53:11you have the party calling for people to come out on the streets,

0:53:11 > 0:53:14they are potentially worrying dynamics. All the excitement we saw

0:53:14 > 0:53:18yesterday, all of those people who believe change was imminent, that it

0:53:18 > 0:53:22was going to come in a matter of days, if not hours, when that is

0:53:22 > 0:53:25brought onto the streets, it be problematic.

0:53:25 > 0:53:31One more question. Impeachment is what he has been threatened with by

0:53:31 > 0:53:35Zanu-PF. They say if he doesn't resign by midday tomorrow, which are

0:53:35 > 0:53:39clearly won't do, that is when the impeachment process begins. Will

0:53:39 > 0:53:43that get rid of him and how quickly would it get rid of him?Potentially

0:53:43 > 0:53:47possible they might go ahead with this. The other possibility is you

0:53:47 > 0:53:50will get some kind of fudge. There will be a lot of talking now between

0:53:50 > 0:53:55the leaders of the military and the other branches of the state security

0:53:55 > 0:53:59forces. The War Veterans and the party itself. Remember, the man we

0:53:59 > 0:54:04haven't mentioned so far, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The heir apparent that

0:54:04 > 0:54:08the party wants to replace Robert Mugabe. He is going to have eight he

0:54:08 > 0:54:10say in whether that impeachment process goes ahead or not. It is

0:54:10 > 0:54:16still a very top-down party, Zanu-PF. He is the new top. If he

0:54:16 > 0:54:21decides, I can wait another few weeks for this party Congress to

0:54:21 > 0:54:24appoint me, I suspect the party will fall into line. Whether the people

0:54:24 > 0:54:29will is another matter.Thank you very much indeed. Fergal Keane with

0:54:29 > 0:54:35the very latest. It has been another extraordinary day here in Zimbabwe.

0:54:35 > 0:54:40First of all, the day starting with Zanu-PF's Central committee deposing

0:54:40 > 0:54:46Robert Mugabe after 37 years as the leader of the party. And then

0:54:46 > 0:54:49issuing an ultimatum that if he doesn't resign by midday tomorrow

0:54:49 > 0:54:54local time, he would be facing impeachment proceedings. He made

0:54:54 > 0:54:57that TV address on Zimbabwean television this evening and didn't

0:54:57 > 0:55:02say he would resign. He is not going that will disappoint many millions

0:55:02 > 0:55:06of Zimbabweans. That is the latest from here in Harare with the BBC

0:55:06 > 0:55:09special coverage. Back to the studio.

0:55:15 > 0:55:19A good deal of sunshine today but pictures like this are going to be

0:55:19 > 0:55:22few and far between in the week ahead. The sunshine that many of us

0:55:22 > 0:55:27have enjoyed today is about to be replaced by something cloudier,

0:55:27 > 0:55:30milder and wetter. Our weather over the coming week is going to be

0:55:30 > 0:55:34coming in from off the Atlantic. This is the next frontal system.

0:55:34 > 0:55:38Ahead of it, some clear skies this evening in the eastern side of the

0:55:38 > 0:55:42country, meaning an early frost. Eventually the cloud will build, Al

0:55:42 > 0:55:44brings a rain heading into Northern Ireland, northern England and

0:55:44 > 0:55:48Scotland, where we will see some snow on the mountains and some

0:55:48 > 0:55:52outbreaks of rain in Wales and the Midlands, but quite patchy. Cold in

0:55:52 > 0:55:58Northern Ireland and Scotland, 4-5. Much milder further south,

0:55:58 > 0:56:02particular converter Reeson morning. Quite a wet start the day across

0:56:02 > 0:56:06much of northern England, northern England and Scotland. Further south,

0:56:06 > 0:56:10more cloudier and breezy but mainly dry. A little bit of patchy rain but

0:56:10 > 0:56:16look at the temperatures compared to morning. Some outbreaks of rain in

0:56:16 > 0:56:19East Anglia, and it will be slow to clear here. A cool start the day.

0:56:19 > 0:56:26Rain slyly easing from Northern Ireland. It will take its time to go

0:56:26 > 0:56:31from northern Scotland. Snow above 400 metres. The rains slowly clears

0:56:31 > 0:56:35eastwards through the day that takes its time to go from parts of

0:56:35 > 0:56:39northern England, the Midlands and eastern parts of England. The south

0:56:39 > 0:56:43and West, some patchy outbreaks of rain in the afternoon. Once that

0:56:43 > 0:56:48rain clears, some brighter skies. Much milder, 12-13, but still in

0:56:48 > 0:56:51some colder air across Scotland and Northern Ireland. There has been a

0:56:51 > 0:56:54battle going on between the cold air to the eastern something milder to

0:56:54 > 0:56:58the west. In the coming days, that milder air will generally win

0:56:58 > 0:57:03through. It is quite unsettled. This is the picture as they go into

0:57:03 > 0:57:05Tuesday, another frontal system pushing its way across,

0:57:05 > 0:57:09strengthening the wind and bringing some outbreaks of rain, mainly to

0:57:09 > 0:57:13Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England in the morning,

0:57:13 > 0:57:16arriving in Wales in south-west England later. By and large, the

0:57:16 > 0:57:23further south unease, holding onto something drier. 12-14 for most of

0:57:23 > 0:57:28us. Through much of us this week 's wet and windy weather, driest for a

0:57:28 > 0:57:32time in the south and east but all of seeing something a milder.

1:00:18 > 1:00:23This is BBC News.

1:00:23 > 1:00:27I am Ben Brown reporting live from Harare and the continuing crisis in

1:00:27 > 1:00:35Zimbabwe. The news is that President Robert Mugabe has made a televised

1:00:35 > 1:00:42address in which he has refused to resign. He vowed to stay on in power

1:00:42 > 1:00:46until December, for the special Congress of the ruling Zanu-PF

1:00:46 > 1:00:51party. Against some expectations that he would step down after huge

1:00:51 > 1:00:54pressure and the military takeover here last Wednesday, he did not say

1:00:54 > 1:01:01anything about resigning and he did not even refer to it. It was a long

1:01:01 > 1:01:04and rambling speech. It will disappoint many people in this

1:01:04 > 1:01:10country who had marched against him yesterday, taking to the streets in

1:01:10 > 1:01:17their tens of thousands here in Harare and also Bulawayo, amid

1:01:17 > 1:01:19euphoric and joyful scenes because protesters believed the Army had

1:01:19 > 1:01:26finally toppled Mr Mugabe with his takeover. But in his address, Mr

1:01:26 > 1:01:31Mugabe said that military action in Harare was not a threat to his

1:01:31 > 1:01:40authority as Head of State. This is what he had to say.

1:01:40 > 1:01:52Intergenerational conflict must be resolved through harmonised melding

1:01:52 > 1:02:02of old established players, as they embrace and welcome new rules. New

1:02:02 > 1:02:13ones through a well-defined sense of hierarchy and succession. Indeed,

1:02:13 > 1:02:22all these matters will be discussed and settled at the forthcoming

1:02:22 > 1:02:30Congress, within the framework of a clear road map that seeks to resolve

1:02:30 > 1:02:40once and for all any other missions or contradictions that have affected

1:02:40 > 1:02:51our party negatively. The Congress is due in a few weeks from now. I

1:02:51 > 1:03:00will preside over its processes, which must not be repossessed by any

1:03:00 > 1:03:13axe calculated to undermine it. Or to compromise the outcomes in the

1:03:13 > 1:03:17eyes of the public.

1:03:17 > 1:03:21That was Robert Mugabe addressing the nation. There have been reports

1:03:21 > 1:03:25on one news agency that he had agreed to resign, but those turned

1:03:25 > 1:03:29out to be erroneous. He has not and many people have said for a very

1:03:29 > 1:03:34long time he is a stubborn man and so he has proved to be once again.

1:03:34 > 1:03:39In response to that speech tonight where he has refused to resign, the

1:03:39 > 1:03:42leader of the war veterans who fought alongside Mr Mugabe in the

1:03:42 > 1:03:46War of Independence and liberation has said the impeachment process

1:03:46 > 1:03:49against the President must now begin if he will not resign, and he called

1:03:49 > 1:03:54upon people to take to the streets again as they did yesterday, on

1:03:54 > 1:03:59Wednesday, to demand his resignation. This is his meeting

1:03:59 > 1:04:06earlier today with the generals. The military from the Zimbabwe defence

1:04:06 > 1:04:10forces who launched this military takeover against him last Wednesday.

1:04:10 > 1:04:15These are the pictures from inside Statehouse, the official residence.

1:04:15 > 1:04:19The generals again trying to persuade him to resign with some

1:04:19 > 1:04:23dignity of his own free world, to leave office. But they failed in

1:04:23 > 1:04:28those attempts. And the alternative does now look like impeachment,

1:04:28 > 1:04:33which may begin on Tuesday in the Zimbabwean Parliament. It would

1:04:33 > 1:04:37require a two thirds majority vote in both houses of the Parliament to

1:04:37 > 1:04:42impeachment him as nobody knows how long the process might take. That's

1:04:42 > 1:04:47what our Southern Africa correspondence, a long-time observer

1:04:47 > 1:04:53who has met Robert Mugabe down the years. We use surprised by his

1:04:53 > 1:05:02refusal to stand down -- were you surprised?Well, in a general sense,

1:05:02 > 1:05:08I was, but in the true sense, I was not. Because Robert Mugabe, as we

1:05:08 > 1:05:15have always known him, is a very tough man. He does not give in

1:05:15 > 1:05:21easily. There was no way, as far as his history is concerned, he was

1:05:21 > 1:05:28going to just voluntarily resign. Given the events of the last week,

1:05:28 > 1:05:32there was no way that he would resign, having had meetings with the

1:05:32 > 1:05:38Southern African development community envoys sent by President

1:05:38 > 1:05:42Jacob Zuma, two of them, the Minister of defence, Minister of

1:05:42 > 1:05:47intelligence, his own military chiefs were there, who he has known

1:05:47 > 1:05:51for years. He never gave an instrument those negotiations. And

1:05:51 > 1:05:58today, we saw that his party sacked him as head of Zanu-PF. He still did

1:05:58 > 1:06:04not give them. So quite clearly, Robert Mugabe is still holding the

1:06:04 > 1:06:10idea that he has always held before. He wants to die in office. And we

1:06:10 > 1:06:14know that many people, not just in Zimbabwe, but across the region and

1:06:14 > 1:06:18across the continent, are disappointed by this no resignation

1:06:18 > 1:06:26speech. Yes, he is vowing to stay on at

1:06:26 > 1:06:31least for a few weeks. He talked about presiding over the Zanu-PF

1:06:31 > 1:06:36Party Congress in December. Which is extraordinary really since Zanu-PF

1:06:36 > 1:06:39have just sacked or dismissed him as their party leader today and given

1:06:39 > 1:06:45him an ultimatum, where they said, if you don't resign by midday

1:06:45 > 1:06:49tomorrow local time, we are going to impeach you, or Parliament is. It is

1:06:49 > 1:06:57almost as if he is not to anybody. Yes, and that is exactly the point.

1:06:57 > 1:07:01President Robert Mugabe trusts his own instincts, he trusts his own

1:07:01 > 1:07:06thinking. He thinks that he is correct and the rest of the people

1:07:06 > 1:07:12wrong. And that is why he has not listened to anyone in that room and

1:07:12 > 1:07:17that is if they were telling him to resign, and there has never been any

1:07:17 > 1:07:21official confirmation of the proceedings in those negotiations.

1:07:21 > 1:07:27But remember, there is a tank parked outside his house, he cannot go

1:07:27 > 1:07:31anywhere as freely as he would like. They only allowed to go to the

1:07:31 > 1:07:36university for that ceremony. So we are in a predicament here and that

1:07:36 > 1:07:42is why this meeting that President Zuma is going to attend in Rwanda on

1:07:42 > 1:07:48Tuesday, in Angola, is important. The region is trying to figure out

1:07:48 > 1:07:51how to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis. Everybody had hoped Robert Mugabe

1:07:51 > 1:07:57would resign tonight, but that was to be.

1:07:57 > 1:08:04And the fact that it is not to be, how disappointing will that be for

1:08:04 > 1:08:09the people of Zimbabwe, particularly the people who demonstrated in huge

1:08:09 > 1:08:15numbers here yesterday? We saw the euphoria, that is going to be

1:08:15 > 1:08:18replaced now, one representative Zanu-PF said he was heartbroken.

1:08:18 > 1:08:24There is going to be heartbreak and anger.Yes, very much and that is

1:08:24 > 1:08:30correct. For example, in South Africa, there are millions of

1:08:30 > 1:08:32Zimbabweans who are economic refugees here and they would quite

1:08:32 > 1:08:37like to go back home as soon as things are normal and the economy

1:08:37 > 1:08:42can grow again. Because they believe part of the collapse of the economy

1:08:42 > 1:08:48was created by the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe. But also, remember,

1:08:48 > 1:08:51there is this part of that community that still respects Robert Mugabe

1:08:51 > 1:08:57for the role he played in the liberation struggle against white

1:08:57 > 1:09:05minority rule. He was imprisoned for ten years, he fought his way through

1:09:05 > 1:09:11until Zimbabweans gained their own independence in 1980. So there is a

1:09:11 > 1:09:15section of people who still respect him, it even though they want him to

1:09:15 > 1:09:20step down so that their lives can move on. And that is why we do not

1:09:20 > 1:09:27have a Gaddafi moment today. We don't have a Gaddafi moment and I

1:09:27 > 1:09:31suppose maybe we have been writing Robert Gabby's political obituary

1:09:31 > 1:09:42today premature -- Robert Mugabe. Let's be clear. Robert Mugabe has

1:09:42 > 1:09:45reached a cul-de-sac. Whether he did not resign tonight and he stays on,

1:09:45 > 1:09:52it is quite clear that there is very little room for him to move on now.

1:09:52 > 1:09:57He is just showing his deep sense of commitment to what he believes in.

1:09:57 > 1:10:02He wants to stay in power. But there is no way he can survive this week,

1:10:02 > 1:10:07there is no way and Bob way can go back to where it was last month, for

1:10:07 > 1:10:13example. So he is in a difficult place. I am sure you were wondering,

1:10:13 > 1:10:18where was Mrs Grace Mugabe in those pictures? We saw the military

1:10:18 > 1:10:22officers. She triggered the sequence of events we have been following for

1:10:22 > 1:10:26the last few days. It was she who made the military decide that they

1:10:26 > 1:10:34are not going to support her potential rising to the top job. She

1:10:34 > 1:10:38was nowhere to be found today and we are wondering where she was at this

1:10:38 > 1:10:44crucial live TV speech. Thank you very much for your

1:10:44 > 1:10:49analysis. Our Southern Africa correspondent. It was a long and

1:10:49 > 1:10:54slightly strange speech from President Macron to this evening.

1:10:54 > 1:11:00Certainly not what most of the nation and maybe the world were

1:11:00 > 1:11:03expecting -- President Robert Mugabe. He said the military

1:11:03 > 1:11:07takeover was not a threat to his authority as Head of State and he

1:11:07 > 1:11:12talked about being around as head of country for the Zanu-PF Congress in

1:11:12 > 1:11:18December. This is what else he had to say.The way forward cannot be

1:11:18 > 1:11:29based on swapping, vying cliques that ride roughshod over party rules

1:11:29 > 1:11:37and procedures. There has to be a net return to the guiding principles

1:11:37 > 1:11:47of our party. As enshrined in its constitution. Which must apply early

1:11:47 > 1:11:54and equitably in all situations -- fairly and equitably. And before all

1:11:54 > 1:12:04members. The era of victimisation and arbitrary decisions must be put

1:12:04 > 1:12:20behind. So as we all embrace a new ethos predicated on the supreme law

1:12:20 > 1:12:25of our party.

1:12:25 > 1:12:28That is Robert Mugabe with his televised address this evening in

1:12:28 > 1:12:33Zimbabwe, resisting the pressure on him to resign that we have seen from

1:12:33 > 1:12:36the military, from Zanu-PF, the ruling party here who have sacked

1:12:36 > 1:12:40him today as their party leader, and from the people who have

1:12:40 > 1:12:44demonstrated in the many thousands out on the streets yesterday,

1:12:44 > 1:12:48demanding that he resigned. Let's talk to Doctor Sue Onslow who has

1:12:48 > 1:12:53followed the career of Robert Mugabe and sheets from the Institute of

1:12:53 > 1:12:57Commonwealth studies in London. Thank you very much. Are you

1:12:57 > 1:13:01surprised that he has refused to bow to all that pressure and he is

1:13:01 > 1:13:04staying in the job, for now at least, technically still President

1:13:04 > 1:13:11of Zimbabwe?I must admit, I listened to his address with growing

1:13:11 > 1:13:15disbelief, but thinking, he has done it again. I was thinking at

1:13:15 > 1:13:19lunchtime, this is going to be a very difficult President to oust

1:13:19 > 1:13:25from office and he has proved me right yet again, I suppose, in that

1:13:25 > 1:13:29particular respect. I thought it was very interesting reading the press

1:13:29 > 1:13:35statement by the Central committee, the decision this morning, that he

1:13:35 > 1:13:42has been dismissed as their leader, but not expelled from the party. He

1:13:42 > 1:13:46has raised the stakes yet again in saying that he wants to go in his

1:13:46 > 1:13:49own time and saying he will preside over the special Congress which will

1:13:49 > 1:13:55be held on the 12th of December. I am going to be very interested

1:13:55 > 1:14:00tomorrow to see whether they will initiate proceedings which raises

1:14:00 > 1:14:05the stakes yet again. But your other point made reference to Grace

1:14:05 > 1:14:10Mugabe. She has been expelled from the party along with 19 other

1:14:10 > 1:14:16members of the group. She has been picked out as leader of the women's

1:14:16 > 1:14:20league. In other words, she has been removed from the equation,

1:14:20 > 1:14:24completely and utterly. And going through that long and rambling

1:14:24 > 1:14:33speech, he was making gestures of being penitent. And emphasising

1:14:33 > 1:14:37constitutionalism, the party was paramount. Unity was paramount,

1:14:37 > 1:14:40learning from previous mistakes and arbitrary decisions that might have

1:14:40 > 1:14:45crept in here and there, he used that phrase. So this is a man

1:14:45 > 1:14:53listening to his own counsel and who is a long-standing taskmaster of

1:14:53 > 1:14:56political manipulation and determined that he will go, if you

1:14:56 > 1:15:00can, at a point of his own choosing. Now, that is of course increasingly

1:15:00 > 1:15:07constrained around him. Emmerson Mnangagwa, having replaced Robert

1:15:07 > 1:15:13Mugabe as President, first secretary of the party, is he going to choose

1:15:13 > 1:15:17this? He will go for the long game I think and say, if we can wait

1:15:17 > 1:15:24another couple of weeks, I would think he is encouraging a

1:15:24 > 1:15:29constitutional and rule-bound procedure precisely because this is

1:15:29 > 1:15:38within African union structures and approaches.They may want to abide

1:15:38 > 1:15:44by the rules but the people out on the streets demonstrating here in

1:15:44 > 1:15:49Harare yesterday, they are going to be hugely disappointed and angry.

1:15:49 > 1:15:53There has been a call for another big demonstration on Wednesday. You

1:15:53 > 1:15:59just wonder how the anger is going to be channelled after tonight.

1:15:59 > 1:16:02That was my other thought immediately, I listened to the

1:16:02 > 1:16:06speech and I was in touch with my co-author and I said, I think this

1:16:06 > 1:16:11could get ugly. And that really troubles me. Because as your

1:16:11 > 1:16:20previous commentators said, the hope, the euphoria, there was an

1:16:20 > 1:16:25amalgam of euphoria and hope and expectation, in that massive

1:16:25 > 1:16:29demonstration and demonstrations elsewhere. In London as well.

1:16:29 > 1:16:33People's hopes riding high that there would be a symbolic shift in

1:16:33 > 1:16:38Robert Mugabe's departure and now there is a sense among some quarters

1:16:38 > 1:16:43of being cheated. Some say, yes, the party is back United and moving

1:16:43 > 1:16:49forward, I would say it is a very complex surge of emotion is going on

1:16:49 > 1:16:57in Harare right now. Yes, and what about the impeachment

1:16:57 > 1:17:01process? That is what is being threatened by Zanu-PF, the party

1:17:01 > 1:17:06that has dumped him as party leader. They have said he will be impeached

1:17:06 > 1:17:10because he will not resign. Do you think Parliament will do that and

1:17:10 > 1:17:14can do that and if they can, how quickly can they do that?

1:17:14 > 1:17:21Well, that was the message coming through should he not resign, that

1:17:21 > 1:17:24the Chief Whip Zanu-PF would institute proceedings in Parliament.

1:17:24 > 1:17:36And not only was there a decision to purge the G-force Tielemans, but the

1:17:36 > 1:17:43G-force T provincial party structures of the state have been

1:17:43 > 1:17:47removed and the team have been reinstated, so there has been a

1:17:47 > 1:17:50reconfiguration in Parliament. A strong message sent by the party.

1:17:50 > 1:17:55What I don't know whether they would indeed decide to go for impeachment

1:17:55 > 1:18:01or whether one of the key deals find the scenes has been, OK, we will

1:18:01 > 1:18:06allow YouTube reside over the special Congress in December, which

1:18:06 > 1:18:10will lead to the formal succession choice, decided by the party,

1:18:10 > 1:18:14because Robert Mugabe has always said he personally could not

1:18:14 > 1:18:17designate his successor. So it would always be a party decision. And it

1:18:17 > 1:18:26would seem to me that the configuration of power in the Army,

1:18:26 > 1:18:31also with Emmerson Mnangagwa in conversation also with South Africa,

1:18:31 > 1:18:40has been to play a slightly longer game. But back to my earlier point.

1:18:40 > 1:18:45The need is for speed of political transition, the need for a stable

1:18:45 > 1:18:50decision, and environment, so they can start to address the economic

1:18:50 > 1:18:59problems confronting Zimbabwe. Thank you very much indeed. Doctor

1:18:59 > 1:19:04Sue Onslow, from the Institute of Commonwealth studies. Let's just

1:19:04 > 1:19:09recap where we are on this extraordinary day in Zimbabwe. After

1:19:09 > 1:19:12those demonstrations we were talking about on the streets yesterday, when

1:19:12 > 1:19:17there was a mood of great euphoria and a sense that people power had

1:19:17 > 1:19:21managed to topple Robert Mugabe. That was the thought of the

1:19:21 > 1:19:25thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets. Well, they have been

1:19:25 > 1:19:35frustrated and disappointed. And today, we had the Zanu-PF Central

1:19:35 > 1:19:42committee, we had the extraordinary news that they were dumping him as

1:19:42 > 1:19:46party leader. And there was an expectation when he made his speech

1:19:46 > 1:19:52this morning on television, on ZBC, that he would announce his

1:19:52 > 1:19:56resignation. That was not to be and he said he is staying until the

1:19:56 > 1:20:01Party Congress next month. So at least for EP weeks. Let's bring in

1:20:01 > 1:20:08our Southern Africa correspondent in Harare. You listened to that

1:20:08 > 1:20:12extraordinary speech, rather rambling at times from Robert

1:20:12 > 1:20:18Mugabe. We use surprised he has decided not to resign and he is

1:20:18 > 1:20:23staying put, this is classic, stubborn Robert Mugabe?It was

1:20:23 > 1:20:26baffling. Everybody expected one thing and yet it is the choreography

1:20:26 > 1:20:34now we're looking at. Why did he not go then? His sense of himself, his

1:20:34 > 1:20:37dignity, is clearly fundamental to all of this. This is a 93-year-old

1:20:37 > 1:20:44who could have gone longer know -- long ago and organised a succession,

1:20:44 > 1:20:49how does he dig himself out of this hole? We know that Zanu-PF, the

1:20:49 > 1:20:53party, has already abandoned him coming he knows that. Though the

1:20:53 > 1:20:57night, perhaps it was about giving the general is the all clear. He was

1:20:57 > 1:21:02very explicit and he said at no point had his own sense of himself

1:21:02 > 1:21:06as the President been challenged. That there was no breaking the

1:21:06 > 1:21:11constitutional order. So he has given them the all clear. We all

1:21:11 > 1:21:16thought that was the moment he would say, and so, after today's

1:21:16 > 1:21:20extraordinary events and yesterday's public marches, I will go. But

1:21:20 > 1:21:25perhaps we are being too hasty. Perhaps we need to see this either

1:21:25 > 1:21:29as a staged event where perhaps in the next day or two he will resign,

1:21:29 > 1:21:35or maybe he will simply, stubbornly push Zanu-PF to do what it has now

1:21:35 > 1:21:42said it will do tomorrow. Tuesday in particular. To start impeachment

1:21:42 > 1:21:45proceedings. The thing about impeachment proceedings, one

1:21:45 > 1:21:49imagines a quick vote in Parliament and he is out, but it will take a

1:21:49 > 1:21:56bit longer and it could drag out for days, if not longer. So he can buy

1:21:56 > 1:22:00himself time. And he was very specific tonight about wanting to

1:22:00 > 1:22:05get to that Party Congress in December. And saying, I will

1:22:05 > 1:22:10preside. There was a little madness almost because clearly, the reality,

1:22:10 > 1:22:15the world has changed. In his bubble which is also clearly, this bubble

1:22:15 > 1:22:20of self-importance, of a man who has never been challenged. In this

1:22:20 > 1:22:26context, 437 years. Now he has got to find way to explain to himself

1:22:26 > 1:22:30that he has no power, at least in the party left. Thank you very much

1:22:30 > 1:22:38indeed.Andrew Harding, our Southern African correspondent. It seemed at

1:22:38 > 1:22:41times that Robert Mugabe is living in a parallel universe, especially

1:22:41 > 1:22:44when he said the military takeover was not a threat to his authority as

1:22:44 > 1:22:52Head of State. But let's bring in the representative in the UK

1:22:52 > 1:22:57Zanu-PF, the party that has dismissed Mr Mugabe as party leader.

1:22:57 > 1:23:02What was your reaction when you heard that speech, Mr Mnangagwa, and

1:23:02 > 1:23:08you heard he is not going to resign? I waited with bated breath, hoping

1:23:08 > 1:23:14at some point the speech would take a turn and I would think, OK, we are

1:23:14 > 1:23:21getting there now. But as I continued to listen, he was

1:23:21 > 1:23:25basically saying, we have learned lessons. Hello! You have learned

1:23:25 > 1:23:32lessons for how long? After how long? And to do what? Within what

1:23:32 > 1:23:37time you have? And at what age? It did not make sense. And also, the

1:23:37 > 1:23:43fact that he completely ignored today's events, ignored them or he

1:23:43 > 1:23:49did not even know that he is no longer the Zanu-PF leader. He is no

1:23:49 > 1:23:52longer the first secretary and President, somebody else has been

1:23:52 > 1:23:57put in place of him. He is not aware that over 200 members of his own

1:23:57 > 1:24:03Central Committee, out of 300, dismissed him. And he believed that

1:24:03 > 1:24:11he could just walk into that Congress and chair it and steer it

1:24:11 > 1:24:20his way as he normally does. It was like he is lacking awareness of

1:24:20 > 1:24:24where he was and who was surrounding him. Because totally, the pressure

1:24:24 > 1:24:33from the commanders seemed to not have brought any end results.

1:24:33 > 1:24:41Nothing. So I don't know. But the point still remains. It does not

1:24:41 > 1:24:47change that President Robert Mugabe, is he still is, is no longer the

1:24:47 > 1:24:50President Zanu-PF, no longer the first secretary of Zanu-PF. He will

1:24:50 > 1:24:54not preside over the Congress that is coming. And he was trying to

1:24:54 > 1:24:58articulate his own agenda for that Congress. He is not going to

1:24:58 > 1:25:02articulate an agenda for that Congress is the agenda has been set

1:25:02 > 1:25:05by the Central Committee today, which has nothing to do with the

1:25:05 > 1:25:11issues he is raising. The issues that are coming to the Zanu-PF

1:25:11 > 1:25:14constitution, they have been set today by the right Central

1:25:14 > 1:25:24Committee. And we no longer have that power he is trying to use to

1:25:24 > 1:25:28impose well. We're running out of time, but thank

1:25:28 > 1:25:34you very much for your analysis. From Zanu-PF, the Zanu-PF

1:25:34 > 1:25:38representative in London. With his analysis of what has been an

1:25:38 > 1:25:45extraordinary speech from President Robert Mugabe, and he is still

1:25:45 > 1:25:48President Robert Mugabe, the oldest Head of State still at the age of

1:25:48 > 1:25:5393. He has refused to bow to pressure from the people, from the

1:25:53 > 1:25:58party, from the Army, for him to resign. He is staying in office.

1:25:58 > 1:26:01Stubbornly, some would say. But that is the very latest from Harare. You

1:26:01 > 1:26:03are watching BBC News.

1:26:07 > 1:26:11It may have been a cold weekend, but it ended on a final note for many

1:26:11 > 1:26:15today, a lot of dry weather around and sunshine as we can see from

1:26:15 > 1:26:19these pictures from the Isle of Wight to Orkney. A lot of cloud

1:26:19 > 1:26:23moved into Western part of the UK so that is going to wind out over

1:26:23 > 1:26:29night. After a chilly start across eastern parts, temperatures rise

1:26:29 > 1:26:33tonight with the cloud moving in and rein in Northern Ireland, Scotland,

1:26:33 > 1:26:36Northern England, Wales and the Midlands and East Anglia. Light and

1:26:36 > 1:26:42patchy in Southern England. Still some cold air in place in Scotland.

1:26:42 > 1:26:48As the wet weather moves in, we will see some snow. The hills, North of

1:26:48 > 1:26:51the Central Belt, Bob 400 m and a messy start to Monday across

1:26:51 > 1:26:57Scotland with rain and heavy rain in places. The higher you go, North of

1:26:57 > 1:27:01the central bolt. Outbreaks of rain in Northern Ireland, Northern

1:27:01 > 1:27:04England and eastern England. For much of Southern England, the

1:27:04 > 1:27:09Midlands and Wales, the overnight rain is light and patchy. But plenty

1:27:09 > 1:27:13of cloud. Look how mild it is to start the day! So different from how

1:27:13 > 1:27:19Sunday started. On Monday, after a wet start for some, gradually

1:27:19 > 1:27:22turning drier. It takes a while to get rid of the rein in Northern

1:27:22 > 1:27:26England but it improves in the afternoon, brighter breaks to the

1:27:26 > 1:27:30East of high ground in the UK possible. A lot of cloud through the

1:27:30 > 1:27:34day. Patchy light rain and drizzle into the afternoon in some spots.

1:27:34 > 1:27:38Most of us will be milder but still single figure temperatures in

1:27:38 > 1:27:42Scotland. This is Monday evening, a lot of cloud -- a lot of cloud,

1:27:42 > 1:27:47patchy rain. The cloud moves through Northern England and in the Scotland

1:27:47 > 1:27:51through the night and into Tuesday. Milder air eventually reaching

1:27:51 > 1:27:55Scotland means any snow turning the rain across most of the hills during

1:27:55 > 1:28:00Tuesday. The wind is picking up across the board and more rain

1:28:00 > 1:28:04working South East across England and Wales through Tuesday.

1:28:04 > 1:28:08Temperatures higher even in Scotland. But elsewhere, 12-14d. The

1:28:08 > 1:28:13big picture Tuesday and Wednesday, dominated by low pressure. The wind

1:28:13 > 1:28:17is getting stronger. The second half of the week quite turbulent. Low

1:28:17 > 1:28:21pressure giving wet and windy conditions at at times. This week,

1:28:21 > 1:28:24it is turning milder with quite a bit of wet weather around and

1:28:24 > 1:28:26midweek, wet and windy.

1:29:37 > 1:29:38Hello.

1:29:38 > 1:29:43This is BBC News.

1:29:43 > 1:29:45The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, clings

1:29:45 > 1:29:51on to power after failing to announce his resignation in

1:29:51 > 1:29:53Flanked by military chiefs, he said he intended to chair

1:29:53 > 1:29:56the congress of the ruling Zanu-PF party next month.

1:29:56 > 1:30:02In doing so, he defied an ultimatum by the party to resign by tomorrow.

1:30:02 > 1:30:05The leader of Zimbabwe's war veterans says plans to impeach

1:30:05 > 1:30:07the 93-year-old will go ahead, with demonstrations expected

1:30:07 > 1:30:12on the streets of the capital Harare on Wednesday.

1:30:12 > 1:30:17In other news, police say a postmortem examination carried out

1:30:17 > 1:30:21on the body of the teenager, Gaia Pope, hasn't identified any

1:30:21 > 1:30:31injuries to suggest another person was involved in her death.

1:30:31 > 1:30:35More now on our top story, in an extraordinary day in Zimbabwe,

1:30:35 > 1:30:39President Robert Mugabe has NOT resigned from power

1:30:39 > 1:30:49despite pressure on him to do so from within his own party.

1:30:49 > 1:30:52At just after 7 O'Clock London time, President Mugabe made

1:30:52 > 1:30:59a televised address from his state residence, flanked by military men.

1:30:59 > 1:31:07And despite the widespread speculation he was about to stand

1:31:07 > 1:31:09down, he disappointed many by not resigning and instead

1:31:09 > 1:31:11said he intended to lead next month's congress

1:31:11 > 1:31:12of the ruling party, ZANU-PF.

1:31:12 > 1:31:14Let's listen to that speech in full now

1:31:14 > 1:31:20.Hello Zimbabweans. I address you tonight on the back of a meeting I

1:31:20 > 1:31:31held today with the nation's security forces command element.

1:31:31 > 1:31:44This meeting, which was facilitated by a mediating team, from the

1:31:44 > 1:31:49Catholic Church followed an operation mounted by the Zimbabwe

1:31:49 > 1:31:58Defence Forces in the week that has gone by. And which was triggered by

1:31:58 > 1:32:06concerns arising from their reading of the state of affairs in our

1:32:06 > 1:32:16country and in the ruling ZANU-PF party. Whatever the pros and cons,

1:32:16 > 1:32:24the way they went about registering those concerns, I, as the President

1:32:24 > 1:32:29of Zimbabwe and as their Commander-in-Chief, do acknowledge

1:32:29 > 1:32:35the issues they have drawn my attention to. And do believe that

1:32:35 > 1:32:44these were raised in the spirit of honesty and out of deep and

1:32:44 > 1:32:53patriotic concerns for the stability of our nation. And for the welfare

1:32:53 > 1:33:02of our people. As I address you, I am also aware of a whole range of

1:33:02 > 1:33:16concerns which has come from you all as citizens of our great country.

1:33:18 > 1:33:29Today's meeting with the command element has underscored the need for

1:33:29 > 1:33:38us to collectively start processes that return our nation to normalcy.

1:33:38 > 1:33:45So all our people can go about their business unhindered in an

1:33:45 > 1:33:55environment of perfect peace and security, assured that law and order

1:33:55 > 1:34:05is obtained and prevail as before and endure well into the future. If

1:34:05 > 1:34:12there is any one observation we have made and drawn from events of the

1:34:12 > 1:34:21past week, it is the unshakeable pedestal upon which rests our state

1:34:21 > 1:34:34of peace, law and order amply indicating that as Zimbabweans, we

1:34:34 > 1:34:44are generally a peacefully disposed people and can express our

1:34:44 > 1:34:46differences and exprus our differences with ourselves and with

1:34:46 > 1:34:51a level of dignity, discipline and restraint so rare to many other

1:34:51 > 1:35:03nations. This is to be admired. Indeed, such traits must form the

1:35:03 > 1:35:14peace of our national character and personality. Yes, a veritable

1:35:14 > 1:35:23resource we summon and draw upon in troubled times. The operation I have

1:35:23 > 1:35:29alluded to did not amount to a threat to our well-cherished

1:35:29 > 1:35:35constitutional order. Nor did it challenge to my authority as head of

1:35:35 > 1:35:48state and government. Not even as Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe

1:35:48 > 1:36:02Defence Forces. To a man, the command element rebhaned respectful

1:36:02 > 1:36:09and comported with the dictates of constitutionalism. True, a few

1:36:09 > 1:36:17incidences may have occurred here and there but these have been

1:36:17 > 1:36:25corrected. I am happy that throughout the short period, the

1:36:25 > 1:36:38pillars of state remain functional. On lappier for me and arising - even

1:36:38 > 1:36:50happier for me and arising out of today's meeting is a strong sense of

1:36:50 > 1:36:53collegiate and now the in the various arms of our security

1:36:53 > 1:37:06establishment. This should bring greater peace and also an abiding

1:37:06 > 1:37:21sense of security in communities and in our entire nation. Among the

1:37:21 > 1:37:29issues discussed, is that relating to our economy, which, as we all

1:37:29 > 1:37:40know is going through a difficult patch.

1:37:43 > 1:37:57Of great concern (inaudible) operations of all importance.

1:37:58 > 1:38:06(Inaudible)

1:38:07 > 1:38:17... Between high rapging officials in the party and in Government,

1:38:17 > 1:38:23exacerbated by multiple conflicting messages from both the party and

1:38:23 > 1:38:27Government - high ranking officials, made the criticisms levelled against

1:38:27 > 1:38:43us inescapable. Amidst all this, projects already adopted by

1:38:43 > 1:38:47government stood stalled, needless controversies. All this now has to

1:38:47 > 1:38:56stopped as we inaugurate a new work culture and pace which will show a

1:38:56 > 1:39:07strong sense of purpose and commitment to turning around our

1:39:07 > 1:39:24economy in terms of our policies. The Government remains committed to

1:39:24 > 1:39:38improving the social and material conditions of the people. Government

1:39:38 > 1:39:42will soon unveil an entrepreneurial skills and business development

1:39:42 > 1:39:48programme which will empower and unleash gainful projects at our

1:39:48 > 1:39:58growth points and rural areas. Tell all Zimbabweans we are a nation born

1:39:58 > 1:40:08out of a protracted struggle for national independence. Our rules lie

1:40:08 > 1:40:20in that struggle, with goals and ideals and present and construct our

1:40:20 > 1:40:24future.

1:40:29 > 1:40:32Core tennants must be subscribed by all across generations and across

1:40:32 > 1:40:43times. Indeed, these too was a great concern of our commanders who

1:40:43 > 1:40:49themselves were makers of that revolution and often at very tender

1:40:49 > 1:40:58ages and at great personal terror. We still have in our various

1:40:58 > 1:41:06communities veterans of that founding struggle. We might have

1:41:06 > 1:41:13founded the prevailing management of national and issues quite

1:41:13 > 1:41:22alienating. This must be corrected without delay, including ensuring

1:41:22 > 1:41:28that these veterans continue to play central roles in the lives of our

1:41:28 > 1:41:38nation.

1:41:39 > 1:41:46We must all recognise that our participation in the war of

1:41:46 > 1:41:55liberation exacted life-Long costs, which whilst hardly repayable, may

1:41:55 > 1:42:05still be assuaged and Amelliouraited. In respect of the

1:42:05 > 1:42:11party, and the party issues raised by both of the commanders and by the

1:42:11 > 1:42:20general membership of ZANU-PF this too stands acknowledged. They have

1:42:20 > 1:42:31to be attended to with a great sense of urgency. However, I am aware that

1:42:31 > 1:42:38as a party of liberation, ZANU-PF has, over the years, written

1:42:38 > 1:42:47elaborate rules and procedures that guide the operations of all its

1:42:47 > 1:42:59organs and its personnel. Indeed, the current criticism raised against

1:42:59 > 1:43:04the command element - raised against it by the command element and some

1:43:04 > 1:43:14of its members. Have arisen from a well-founded perception that the

1:43:14 > 1:43:25party was stretching or even failing in its own rules and procedures. The

1:43:25 > 1:43:38way forward, that cannot be based on swapping (inaudible) that ride

1:43:38 > 1:43:45roughshod over party rules and procedures. There has to be a net

1:43:45 > 1:43:53return to the guiding principles of our party, as enshrined in its

1:43:53 > 1:44:00constitution, which must apply fairly and equitably in all

1:44:00 > 1:44:15situations and before all members. The area of victimisation and

1:44:15 > 1:44:26arbitrary decisions must be put behind so as we all embrace a new

1:44:26 > 1:44:37ethos, predicated on the supreme law of our party and nourished by an

1:44:37 > 1:44:49abiding sense of comrade Iry. -- comradery. To all there, there must

1:44:49 > 1:45:01be general recognition that ZANU-PF is a party of traditions. And has

1:45:01 > 1:45:06been served by successive generations who are bound to the by

1:45:06 > 1:45:12shared ideals and values which must continue to reign supreme in our

1:45:12 > 1:45:22nation.

1:45:23 > 1:45:36Intergenerational conflict must be

1:45:37 > 1:45:42resolved through harmonised melding of old established players as they

1:45:42 > 1:45:50embrace and welcome new rules, new ones through a well-defined sense of

1:45:50 > 1:46:01hierarchy and succession. Indeed, all these matters will be discussed

1:46:01 > 1:46:08by settled at the forthcoming conference within the framework of a

1:46:08 > 1:46:19clear road map that seeks to resolve once and for all any omissions or

1:46:19 > 1:46:28contradictions that have affected our party neglectively.

1:46:32 > 1:46:39In a few weeks from now, I will preside over the processes which

1:46:39 > 1:46:49must not be prepossessed by any acts acts calculated to undermine it or

1:46:49 > 1:46:58to compromise the outcomes in the eyes of the public. I conclude this

1:46:58 > 1:47:05address and I am aware that many developments have occurred in the

1:47:05 > 1:47:12party or have been championed and done by individuals in the name of

1:47:12 > 1:47:25the party. Given the failings of the past and the anger this might have

1:47:25 > 1:47:34triggered in some quarters, such as developments - such developments are

1:47:34 > 1:47:43quite understandable. However we cannot be guided by bitterness or

1:47:43 > 1:47:56vengefulness, both of which would not make us any better party members

1:47:56 > 1:48:08or any better Zimbabweans. Our policy of reconciliation, which we

1:48:08 > 1:48:16pronounced in 1980, and which through we reached out to those who

1:48:16 > 1:48:28had occupied and oppressed us for nearly a century and those we had

1:48:28 > 1:48:38traded fire with in a bitter war, surely cannot be unavailable to our

1:48:38 > 1:48:50own, both in the party and in our nation. We must learn to forgive and

1:48:50 > 1:49:01resolve contradictions, real or perceived in a comradery Zimbabwean

1:49:01 > 1:49:10spirit. I am confident that from tonight our whole nation, all of us,

1:49:10 > 1:49:18gets reforecast as we put shoulder to the wheel amidst the promising

1:49:18 > 1:49:35agricultural season already upon us. Let us all move forward, reminding

1:49:35 > 1:49:49ourselves of our war-time mantra. I thank you and good night.

1:49:52 > 1:49:59Sorry, one or two places I went wrong. I hope we can correct that.

1:49:59 > 1:50:02There we are, Robert Mugabe essentially defying all expectation

1:50:02 > 1:50:06in that speech earlier this evening. So many people expecting a speech of

1:50:06 > 1:50:09resignation but actually as you saw there something quite different.

1:50:09 > 1:50:14What might be described as a rather rambling speech, some confusion tend

1:50:14 > 1:50:19that he was even on live television, as he apologised under his breath to

1:50:19 > 1:50:36those around him for having stumbled here and there and Morgan Tsvangirai

1:50:36 > 1:50:42saying he was "baffled by his decision not to resign." Well Ben

1:50:42 > 1:50:46Brown spoke to the Africa editor, Fergal Keane who gave his reaction

1:50:46 > 1:50:51to Mugabe's speechIt is the end of the era of Mugabe but he has managed

1:50:51 > 1:50:56probably by playing an international card, probably by saying it is the

1:50:56 > 1:50:59policy of the African Union, or international community that leaders

1:50:59 > 1:51:04are not moved by coups, he has managed to gain himself extra time.

1:51:04 > 1:51:07But does anybody really believe? Given the strength of feeling in the

1:51:07 > 1:51:11party and on the streets that he is going to endure as President of

1:51:11 > 1:51:17Zimbabwe? I'm willing, in terms of the narrative to say, no that's not

1:51:17 > 1:51:20going to happen. You talked about how frustrated the people will be,

1:51:20 > 1:51:25we saw that people power on the streets down behind us in Harare and

1:51:25 > 1:51:27the call we gather from the war veterans for them to come back out

1:51:27 > 1:51:31on to the streets on Wednesday but it doesn't look like Robert Mugabe

1:51:31 > 1:51:36listens to the people, certainly not to be people who were demonstrating

1:51:36 > 1:51:39yesterday, demanding he goes. It has never been his story, listen

1:51:39 > 1:51:44together people. That's not the time of politics he came up W he is a

1:51:44 > 1:51:51graduate of the revolutionary politics of the 40s, 50s, 60s,

1:51:51 > 1:51:56trained in Leninist positions of power, you control party organs, and

1:51:56 > 1:52:00the military and security force. The key thing is he doesn't control them

1:52:00 > 1:52:04anybody. Tonight, yes, a big anticlimax for many who come out on

1:52:04 > 1:52:08to the streets but it is not the end of the story of Robert Mugabe's

1:52:08 > 1:52:11departure. That is going to happen. Now, when you have the party calling

1:52:11 > 1:52:15for people to come on to the streets, they are potentially

1:52:15 > 1:52:18worrying dynamics. All of that excitement that we saw yesterday,

1:52:18 > 1:52:21all of those people who believe that change is imminent. That it is going

1:52:21 > 1:52:27to come in a matter of die days, if not hours, when it is brought on to

1:52:27 > 1:52:32the streets, it could be problematic. .One more question,

1:52:32 > 1:52:37you know, impeachment is what he is being threatened with by ZANU-PF of

1:52:37 > 1:52:41they have said if he doesn't resign by midday tomorrow, which he clearly

1:52:41 > 1:52:45isn't going to do, that's when the impeachment begins. Will that get

1:52:45 > 1:52:49rid of him? How quickly?It is potentially possibly they might go

1:52:49 > 1:52:52ahead with this. The other possibility is you will get some

1:52:52 > 1:52:57kind of fudge. There will be a lot of talking now between the leaders

1:52:57 > 1:53:01of the military and other branches of the state security forces, the

1:53:01 > 1:53:08war veterans and party and something we have not mentioned so far in this

1:53:08 > 1:53:11conversation, the kind of heir that the party wants to replace Robert

1:53:11 > 1:53:15Mugabe. He will have a key say in whether that impeachment process

1:53:15 > 1:53:20goes ahead. It is still a very topdown party. He is the new top. If

1:53:20 > 1:53:25he decides - I can wait another few weeks fear the congress to anoint

1:53:25 > 1:53:28me, I suspect the party will fall into line. Whether the people will,

1:53:28 > 1:53:33is another party. The BBC's Fergal Keane speaking to Ben Brown in

1:53:33 > 1:53:39Harare. And earlier Ben also speak to the representative for ZANU-PF in

1:53:39 > 1:53:47the UK he said he was disappointed by Robert Mugabe's speechRobert

1:53:47 > 1:53:53Mugabe has just rained on Zimbabwe's par I had a, really. I think

1:53:53 > 1:53:56everybody, every one of my compatriots is downcast, pretty much

1:53:56 > 1:54:01heart broken. I'm very sad because what is going to happen from here

1:54:01 > 1:54:08now is the humiliation of Robert Mugabe. Big time humiliation, which

1:54:08 > 1:54:14is something that throughout the week I was saying we don't need and

1:54:14 > 1:54:18it is very sad, because when the evidence - I mean when the

1:54:18 > 1:54:22impeachment evidence comes, it will be very, very embarrassing and

1:54:22 > 1:54:27humiliating. We didn't need to drag him through this mud but he has

1:54:27 > 1:54:32asked for T and as far as he is concerned, he is going to preside

1:54:32 > 1:54:37over Congress in December. That's ridiculous. Which Congress? As far

1:54:37 > 1:54:42as we are concerned he is not longer President of our party. He is done.

1:54:42 > 1:54:46At the central committee, the highest board inside ZANU-PF,

1:54:46 > 1:54:51outside Congress has made a decision, he is gone. All ten of

1:54:51 > 1:54:58them on Friday made the decision he is gone, so whose interests is he

1:54:58 > 1:55:01representing? Which constituents does he represent? The military says

1:55:01 > 1:55:08he is gone. At the moment he goes under the title of Commander of

1:55:08 > 1:55:12chief, because he hasn't stood down formally but in terms of authority,

1:55:12 > 1:55:17he is not comaerned of anybody. All he has is an office but absolutelily

1:55:17 > 1:55:30no authority. So, I don't know what he is playing at.

1:55:36 > 1:55:39As far ZANU-PF is concerned we have a new leader. The nation will do

1:55:39 > 1:55:44what it has to do. Impeach element have to start on Tuesday. Let it

1:55:44 > 1:55:49play. Both the opposition and ZANU-PF are agreed on this, the

1:55:49 > 1:56:01President has to step down. He is three months away.BEN BROWN: How

1:56:01 > 1:56:04quickly do you think that impeachment progress will take? How

1:56:04 > 1:56:10long will it take? Could he be gone within a few days? What is your

1:56:10 > 1:56:15estimate?I think by the end of the week. The committee has to be set in

1:56:15 > 1:56:19place to investigate the allegations against him. And then it has to

1:56:19 > 1:56:23report back and then people have to work on T that's pretty much the

1:56:23 > 1:56:29process. So it might not happen overnight. It might take a few days.

1:56:29 > 1:56:37It depends on the cooperation of all the parties anyway.

1:56:37 > 1:56:39The representative there from ZANU-PF