— Sleepy Mugabe says he won’t quit
The U.S. is seeking “a new era” for Zimbabwe, the State Department’s top official for Africa said, implicitly calling on long-time President Robert Mugabe to step aside as a political crisis mounts.
In an interview with Reuters, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto appeared to dismiss the idea of Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, remaining in a transitional or ceremonial role.
“It’s a transition to a new era for Zimbabwe, that’s really what we’re hoping for,” Yamamoto said.
Zimbabwe’s army seized power on Wednesday, in an apparent effort to prevent Mugabe, 93, from handing power to his wife.
He has not resigned or been formally deposed, however, and he was pictured on Thursday shaking hands with the military chief, Constantino Chiwenga.
Yamamoto, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with African Union officials at the State Department in Washington, described the situation in Zimbabwe as “very fluid.”
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U.S. wants Mugabe out, call for ‘new era’ but sleepy Mugabe says no
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