President Robert Mugabe is reportedly digging in, saying he is the only legitimate ruler and wants to finish his term as head of state.
This as negotiations were under way in Zimbabwe yesterday for a possible way out of the crisis after the military took charge of the country this week.
South African President Jacob Zuma sent a two-member team, comprising Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo to meet Mugabe and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
Mugabe has been in charge for 37 years, taking over at independence in 1980.
Catholic Priest Fidelis Mukonori is also taking part in the negotiations aimed at seeing the 93-year-old leader agree to a bloodless transition of power.
Zimbabwe’s Major-General Sibusiso Moyo was not answering his cellphone when the African News Agency tried to get in touch with him to get an official confirmation of negotiations.
Mugabe’s motorcade, which was a lot shorter than usual due to the absence of the presidential guard, could be seen yesterday when he went to State House in Harare for the meeting.
The military took over the country in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but insisted that it was not a coup, and, instead, they were protecting Mugabe from “criminals surrounding him”.
Moyo said that as soon as the military had completed their mission, they expect the situation to return to normalcy. However, they did not state how long the mission would take.