Major political parties in Zimbabwe on Saturday united in their call for embattled President Robert Mugabe to resign immediately and pave way for a new democratic dispensation in the country.
The leaders were speaking at an anti-Mugabe rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in the capital organized by the influential Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.
“We are here today to support the Zimbabwe Defense Forces who started the journey to remove President Robert Mugabe from power. We now want to fulfill the wishes of Zimbabweans for Mugabe to go.
“We are now in the dawn of a new era and there is no going back for Mugabe to go,” Patrick Chinamasa, ZANU-PF secretary for legal affairs and Cyber Security Minister, said at the rally attended by tens of thousands of Zimbabweans drawn from across the country.
Chinamasa said the First Lady Grace Mugabe should also be investigated for crimes she committed against Zimbabweans.
Former Vice President Joice Mujuru delivered a solidarity message and said Mugabe must go to end the suffering of Zimbabweans.
Mujuru was fired by Mugabe in 2014 on allegations that she wanted to unseat the veteran leader.
“I am here today as one of the freedom fighters of this country to thank the ZDF for the military action they took. Let’s remain united and push Mugabe out,” she said.
Douglas Mwonzora, secretary-general of the Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said their party supports the military action and looked forward to the creation of a new government in Zimbabwe that would respect the constitution.
“We must now change the government and the people who rule us. We must change the country’s president and we say to Mugabe your long political career has now come to an end,” Mwonzora said.
He added: “This country is not a dynasty. This country if for all of us, it’s not for one race. It is not for one tribe, it’s for Zimbabweans together.”
Social media activist Pastor Evan Mawarire who successfully organized a one-day nationwide stay away in 2016 also gave a solidarity message and urged Zimbabweans to remain united and force Mugabe out if he refuses to resign.
“This is an opportunity for us to create a new Zimbabwe,” he said.
As the rally proceeded, tens of thousands of celebrating Zimbabweans were also marching in the streets of the capital demanding Mugabe’s immediate resignation.
