Ousted VP returns to Zimbabwe as Mugabe clings on

Zimbabwe's former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking last week triggered the military's takeover, has returned to the country, an aide told AFP today as ageing leader Robert Mugabe clung onto power.

Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed to President Mugabe, flew back to Harare on Thursday after nearly a week abroad as army chiefs and the president met to negotiate Mugabe's exit from office.

The 93-year-old president has refused to resign, sources said, after soldiers this week put him under house arrest in a stunning turnaround for the veteran leader who has ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since 1980.
 

The generals took over late on Tuesday after Mnangagwa was sacked by the president and Mugabe's wife, Grace, emerged in prime position to succeed her increasingly frail husband.

The military was strongly opposed to Grace's rise, while Mnangagwa has maintained close ties to the defence establishment.

Mugabe's motorcade yesterday took him from his private residence to the State House for the talks, which were also attended by envoys from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc.

"He is refusing to step down. I think he is trying to buy time," said a source close to the army leadership who declined to be named.

Government TV showed Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state, dressed in a navy blue blazer and grey trousers standing alongside army chief General Constantino Chiwenga.

Zimbabwe was left stunned by this week's military intervention which came after Mugabe's advanced age sparked the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe's most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.

But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing rebuke of Mugabe's leadership and Grace's presidential ambitions.

The military said Friday they had detained some "criminals" in Mugabe's government in a reference to supporters of Grace's presidential ambitions.

Grace has not been seen since the military takeover.

State TV said a graduation ceremony at a university where Mugabe is the chancellor would proceed as planned today, although it was unclear if he would attend.