Mugabe Meets With Zimbabwe's Police Amid Worsening Political Crisis

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Sunday, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has met with the country's police and armed forces' leadership for the second time this week in his residence in Harare amid calls for him to resign, local media reported. The first time he met with them was on Thursday.

Among those attending the meeting with the president were Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services Paradzai Zimondi and Commander of Zimbabwe Defense Forces General Constantino Guveya Chiwenga.

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Earlier in the day, the central committee of Zimbabwe's ruling African National Union — the Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), demanded Mugabe  resign the presidency by Monday noon or face impeachment.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 93-year-old Mugabe, who has been leading the country for over 30 years as both president and prime minister, was confined to his house by soldiers. The military deployed armored vehicles in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare and took control of the state-owned broadcaster. Zimbabwe Defense Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Sibusiso Moyo said in a televised address that the military action was aimed at protecting the nation from "criminals" in Mugabe's administration. Moreover, Mugabe’s 52-year-old wife Grace, who had harboured ambitions of succeeding her husband, was also expelled from the party, along with at least three cabinet ministers.

READ MORE: Zimbabwe: Thousands Marching in 'Mugabe Must Go' Protest (PHOTO, VIDEO)

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of mostly young people flooded the streets of Harare. They were singing, dancing and hugging soldiers in an outpouring of elation at Mugabe’s expected overthrow.

The turmoil came after Mugabe dismissed and ousted Mnangagwa from the ruling party. The nation’s defense forces chief, Constantine Chiwenga, warned the president on Monday to stop the purge within the party.