Zimbabwe’s Mugabe passes deadline to resign

Opposition activists and the influential liberation war veterans association announced more demonstrations to pressure the 93-year-old Robert Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of State, to step down after 37 years in power.

“Your time is up,” veterans association leader Chris Mutsvangwa said at a press conference. “You should have the dignity and decency to spare the country of further turmoil by simply announcing your departure immediately.”

Zimbabweans were astonished that Mr. Mugabe, flanked by the military in his national address on Sunday night, remained defiant.

The war veterans’ association will go to court to argue that Mr. Mugabe is “derelict of his executive duty,” Mr. Mutsvangwa said.

Some ruling party members said an impeachment process likely wouldn’t lead to Mr. Mugabe’s immediate resignation and could take days to complete. Mr. Mugabe was stripped of his party leadership on Sunday by the Central Committee of the ruling ZANU-PF but said in his speech he would preside over a party congress next month.