Zimbabwe’s political crisis escalates as lawmakers vow to push out Mugabe

After the ruling Zanu-PF party removed President Robert Mugabe as party leader and demanded his resignation by 10:00 GMT yesterday, he shocked the world by refusing to step down in a televised address. Today, the Zimbabwean parliament will convene to impeach the country’s ruler of 37 years.

If Mugabe loyalists in parliament refuse to vote him out, Zanu-PF will need to negotiate with opposition parties to remove the president, which could lead to harsher terms for Mugabe and even his prosecution Reports are also swirling that Mugabe may dissolve parliament. This could force new elections before impeachment or trigger a constitutional crisis, should parliament refuse to dissolve.

Abandoned by his party and with the military still controlling Zimbabwe’s capital, Mugabe has very little power, even if he hangs onto his formal title as president. With former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa installed as Zanu-PF leader and likely to succeed Mugabe, expect the party and the military to maintain their grip on Zimbabwean society, even as Mugabe falls.

Delve deeper: Mugabe’s Zimbabwe: Beyond the Grave

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