Trending

Mugabe refuses to step down as Zimbabwe's president

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe delivered a speech during a graduation ceremony Friday at the Zimbabwe Open University in Harare.

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Thousands of Zimbabwe residents marched in the streets of Harare on Saturday, demanding the resignation of President Robert Mugabe, CNN reported.

The protests in the capital city occurred days after the 93-year-old president was put under house arrest by the army, which also detained some of his key political allies. Mugabe has been Zimbabwe’s president since 1987.

People waved Zimbabwean flags while others ran beside army tanks and hugged soldiers to show their gratitude, CNN reported.

“The whole nation is celebrating today. We are finally getting rid of the old man,,” said Tanashe, a Harare resident who declined to provide a second name.

But Mugabe was still refusing to step down Saturday, CNN reported. He was meeting Saturday with army chief Gen. Constantino Chiwenga to discuss what happens next. Chiwenga is pushing for Mugabe to step down and for an interim president to take over, CNN reported.