Mugabe defies expectations of immediate resignation

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Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe defied expectations he would resign on Sunday, pledging
to preside over a ZANU-PF congress next month even though the ruling party had removed him as its leader hours earlier.

ZANU-PF had given the 93-year-old less than 24 hours to quit as head of state or face impeachment, an attempt to secure a peaceful end to his tenure after a de facto coup.

Mugabe said in an address on state television that he acknowledged criticism against him from ZANU-PF, the military and the public, but did not comment on the possibility of standing down.

(Reporting by Joe Brock and MacDonald Dzirutwe)