Deadline set by ZANU-PF for Mugabe's resignation passes

HARARE - A noon deadline by the ruling party for Robert Mugabe to stand down as President of Zimbabwe or face impeachment expired on Monday with no word on the fate of the 93-year-old, who was fired as head of his ZANU-PF party at the weekend, an ignominious end to his 37 years in power.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has sent former president Kenneth Kaunda to Harare to try to convince President Robert Mugabe to step down in a “dignified exit” after the military seized power last week.

The ruling party removed Mugabe as ZANU-PF president and first secretary on Sunday and lawmakers from the ruling party were due to meet at the party headquarters on Monday to discuss impeaching the 93-year-old leader.

“Dr Kaunda used the presidential jet and has already arrived in Harare,” a senior government source told Reuters. Kaunda is also 93 years old.