CNN: Mugabe has prepared his resignation draft

CNN reports that Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, has agreed to resign and has prepared his resignation letter. Previously, he had not mentioned his resignation in a televised speech on Sunday evening, November 19. According to Reuters, CNN cited a knowledgeable source familiar with the negotiations between Mr. Mugabe and the generals of the Zimbabwean army, reporting on Monday, November 20, that based on agreements, full judicial immunity has been granted to Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace. Earlier, two senior officials of the Zimbabwean government had told Reuters on Sunday that Mr. Mugabe had agreed to resign. Political opponents and the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association have announced that they will organize more protests to exert further pressure on the 93-year-old Mugabe, the world’s oldest leader. Mutsvangwa, the head of this association, told reporters addressing Robert Mugabe, "Your time is up." He indicated that the association would sue Mugabe for "neglect of executive duties." According to the Associated Press, citing some members of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Mugabe's impeachment would not necessarily lead to his immediate resignation and could take several days. Mugabe, who was removed from the leadership of the ruling ZANU-PF party on Sunday, hours later in his televised speech that evening, without any mention of his intention to resign, stated that he would preside over the party's congress next month. The ruling party of Zimbabwe held an emergency meeting on Sunday, November 19, aimed at forcing Mugabe to resign from the party, ultimately removing him from this position. In this meeting, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe's ousted deputy, was elected as the leader of the ruling party. Robert Mugabe, the oldest person currently in power in the world, has been the uncontested ruler of Zimbabwe for 37 years and despite his old age, previous reports indicated his and his party's willingness to run in the 2018 elections. Since last Tuesday, when he dismissed his deputy with the intention of appointing his wife to the position, Mugabe has been under house arrest, although he was allowed to attend a graduation ceremony on Friday. Since his house arrest, Mr. Mugabe has been trying to buy time through negotiations with the army to find a dignified way to exit power, but as the Associated Press writes, he soon found himself alone and isolated. On Saturday, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans protested against Mugabe's continued rule in several cities across the country. In this context, Mugabe did not mention his resignation in his televised speech. Robert Mugabe has been removed from the leadership of the ruling party of Zimbabwe. Thousands of Zimbabweans have called for Mugabe's resignation. Mugabe appeared in public for the first time since his house arrest. Mugabe's insistence on remaining in power; the crisis in Zimbabwe continues.