How Robert Mugabe could leave power in Zimbabwe
The once-formidable Mugabe is now a virtually powerless, isolated figure, making his continued incumbency all the more unusual and extending Zimbabwe’s political limbo
The ruling party ZANU-PF has sacked him and mass demonstrations on Saturday called for him to step down after the army seized power earlier in the week.
Here are some of the possible routes by which Mugabe could leave power:
Resignation
Article 96 of Zimbabwe’s constitution says that the president can resign if they submit a letter to the parliament speaker who must publicly announce it within 24 hours.
Resignation would be the fastest, simplest and least risky way for Mugabe to leave power – but on Sunday he again showed that he intends to resist all calls to step down.
During his first meeting on Thursday with the army general who led the military takeover, he bluntly refused to step aside.
Another sticking point for this formula is political. The constitution says that in the event of a presidential resignation, he will be replaced by the vice-president.
But the military’s preferred candidate to succeed Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was removed as vice-president last week.