After Coup, Even Mugabe’s Own Party Is Dumping Him
olitical, social and economic situation in the country," which "if left unchecked would have resulted in violent conflict,"
and said the action was intended "to flush out reactionary and criminal elements around the president." On Friday, Mr. Mugabe was freed — if only temporarily — to address a university graduation ceremony. that had taken action to pacify the degenerating p
17, 2017
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s governing party moved on Friday to expel President Robert Mugabe from its ranks, taking
the first step in legally ousting the 93-year-old leader following a military intervention two days earlier.
Instead, Zimbabwe’s military allowed Mr. Mugabe to return to State House, his official residence,
and on Friday, he appeared in a bright blue cap and gown, under tight security, to oversee the graduation ceremony in Harare.
Such was the official concern to maintain an appearance of normalcy
that the state broadcaster devoted the first 10 minutes of its news bulletin on Thursday to interviews with people across the land and, as if scripted, all repeated the same refrain: "It’s business as usual." Mr. Mugabe’s appearance at the graduation ceremony — however surreal — seemed to be part of the same stratagem.
You know he has been deluding himself — he is deluded." Mr. Mugabe — in official portrayals at least
— has maintained power as an enduring emblem of the fight to expunge colonial influence in Africa.