- President Mugabe ignored calls to resign and might now face impeachment
- He was given a Monday deadline to reign after the ruling party sacked him
- Mugabe was noted to have switched speeches before beginning his remarks
- Last week military officials placed the president under house arrest
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has ignored calls to resign and might instead face removal from the office he's held for nearly 40 years.
The 93-year-old leader was given a Monday deadline to resign his presidency after the ruling Zanu-PF party sacked him.
However, Mugabe did not offer any concessions in a televised speech Sunday. Instead, he called for the people of Zimbabwe to avoid "bitterness or revengefulness which would not make us any better."
In his speech, he also noted he would attend the Zanu-PF party's special congress next month -- giving no indication he planned to step down anytime soon.
Generals and army commanders sat beside Mugabe during the speech and noted he switched speeches before beginning his remarks.
"We were disappointed yesterday in the midst of all those generals he appeared to swap [speeches]," Chris Mutsvangwa, leader of the war veterans, said.
- Zimbabwe's Ruling Party Fires Mugabe as President
- Mugabe Under House Arrest after Military Takeover in Zimbabwe
"Your time is up," Mutsvangwa continued. "You should have the dignity and decency to spare the country of further turmoil by simply announcing your departure immediately."
The events leading to Mugabe's predicament came last week when military officials placed the president under house arrest -- they said to "remove criminals" around the leader, perhaps a reference to his wife, Grace Mugabe, who he'd been grooming to succeed him as Zimbabwe's leader.
Since taking control, the military has arrested a dozens senior officials and ministers, and Grace Mugabe's whereabouts are unknown. Thousands of protesters demanded Saturday that Mugabe leave the presidency, which he has held since 1980.
The takeover was preceded by Mugabe dismissing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa, 75, was appointed interim leader of Zanu-PF on Sunday and is widely expected to take over from Mugabe as president.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
