Zimbabwe's head of State Robert Mugabe did not announce his withdrawal as expected in a TV address. Instead, in his speech to nation, 93-year-old president affirmed that he would lead party congress of his ruling Zanu-PF in a few weeks.

Mugabe said in speech flanked by military commanders that country should not be guided by bitterness. He only accepted in his speech that re was criticism of him from party, military and people. He did not comment on a resignation. His political opponents called for new protests against Mugabe after speech.

Previously, re had been reports that Mugabe had agreed to resign in negotiations with military leadership and wanted to proclaim it. The ruling party, Zanu-PF, had previously deposed Mugabe as party leader and put an ultimatum to him: if he did not resign as president by Monday, Parliament would initiate a procedure to abolish office, said party spokesman Simon Khaye Moyo.

The Zanu-PF nominated recent Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa (75), recently named by Mugabe ousted, as his successor at helm of state and party.

The army had put Mugabe under house arrest last Wednesday, apparently also to prevent rise of his wife, Grace Mugabe, to his successor. On weekend, tens of thousands of people had demanded a new political beginning in streets of capital city of Harare. Mugabe has been in power in impoverished country in sourn Africa since 1980.

Date Of Update: 20 November 2017, 12:02