Mugabe clings to power: Zimbabwe's despot leader is thrown out of his party but remains president - Daily Mail

Mugabe clings to power: Zimbabwe's despot leader is thrown out of his party but remains president as thousands march on Harare chanting ‘remove the dictator’ demanding the end of his 37-year reign

During his 37-year reign any opposition to his rule was brutally crushed but crowds were defiant on streets

Crowd voiced support for sacked vice-president Emmanuel ‘Crocodile’ Mnangagwa, favourite to take over

Formerly loyal party members openly called Mr Mugabe a ‘dictator’ and war veterans gave him 24 hours to go

Mugabe himself remained defiant in his Blue Roof mansion, refusing to step down despite the pressure on him

BY MAILONLINE REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 20:19 AEDT, 18 November 2017

Thousands of people took to the streets of Harare today in a historic show of unity to demand an end to the 37-year reign of dictator Robert Mugabe.

Military helicopters flew low overhead as huge crowds marched into the centre of the city, waving Zimbabwean flags and chanting ‘remove the dictator’ and ‘Mugabe, our country is not your property’.

Some also shouted ‘Ngwena, Ngwena’, or ‘Crocodile, Crocodile’, in support of sacked vice-president Emmanuel ‘Crocodile’ Mnangagwa, the favourite to become the next leader.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Harare to demand the end of dictator Robert Mugabe's rule

Zimbabweans carried their country's flag and chanted ‘remove the dictator’ and ‘Mugabe, our country is not your property’ as they voiced their demand for him to leave office after 37 years in power

Some in the crowd also voiced their support for sacked vice-president Emmanuel ‘Crocodile’ Mnangagwa, the favourite to become the next leader, by shouting ‘Ngwena, Ngwena’, or ‘Crocodile, Crocodile’, in support of sacked vice-president Emmanuel ‘Crocodile’ Mnangagwa

Mugabe has been given an ultimatum of 24 hours to resign by the powerful National Liberation War Veterans Association

The protest is a turning point for the southern African state, where for four decades the public criticism of Mugabe has been brutally stamped out

The protest is a turning point for the southern African state, where for four decades the public criticism of Mugabe has been brutally stamped out

During Mugabe's rule, forced rallies were often staged to support him but there was not a single counter-protester coming out in support of him

During Mugabe's rule, forced rallies were often staged to support him but there was not a single counter-protester coming out in support of him

The mass show of defiance comes as Mugabe has been dramatically thrown out of his own party today after all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe passed a no-confidence motion in the dictator.

It makes it almost impossible for him to continue to cling to power. The decision will be ratified tomorrow and put into effect next week.

The 93-year-old will be removed as the head of ZANU-PF but technically remains as president. However, Emmerson ‘the Crocodile’ Mnangagwa, the sacked Vice President who returned to Zimbabwe on Wednesday, will be installed as the new party leader, it was confirmed today.

It was an unprecedented show of defiance and unity in this notoriously divided country, as ordinary Zimbabweans from across the political spectrum came together as one to oppose the dictator.

Zimbabweans from all party of society came together in a show of unity to demand the removal of President Robert Mugabe Zimbabweans from all party of society came together in a show of unity to demand the removal of President Robert Mugabe

Members of the powerful war veterans, traditionally a source of support for Mugabe, stand guard at the stage prior to the mass action protests

Members of the powerful war veterans, traditionally a source of support for Mugabe, stand guard at the stage prior to the mass action protests

There were fears the opposition rally would degenerate into violence, as happened in 2013 when crowds went on the rampage in Harare after an opposition rally +20

There were fears the opposition rally would degenerate into violence, as happened in 2013 when crowds went on the rampage in Harare after an opposition rally

There was spirit of harmony in the crowd the sense of liberation from the shackles of the dictator¿s secret police was tangible.

There was spirit of harmony in the crowd the sense of liberation from the shackles of the dictator’s secret police was tangible.

All 10 provinces controlled by the Zanu-PF also passed no confidence motions in the leader, heaping further pressure on him to step down

All 10 provinces controlled by the Zanu-PF also passed no confidence motions in the leader, heaping further pressure on him to step down

Mugabe was mocked for his record in the war background that led to the foundation of Zimbabwe with one ware veteran saying: 'He only came to the Front once. The closest Mugabe ever was to the fighting was 400km away.¿ +20

Mugabe was mocked for his record in the war background that led to the foundation of Zimbabwe with one ware veteran saying: 'He only came to the Front once. The closest Mugabe ever was to the fighting was 400km away.’

Ordinary Zimbabweans said they felt like they were dreaming after the 37-year-old dictatorship crumbled before their eyes

Ordinary Zimbabweans said they felt like they were dreaming after the 37-year-old dictatorship crumbled before their eyes

Even formerly loyal party members openly called Mr Mugabe a ¿dictator¿ and united their efforts in trying to force him to stand down

Even formerly loyal party members openly called Mr Mugabe a ‘dictator’ and united their efforts in trying to force him to stand down

Ecstatic crowds marched through central Harare, cheering and hugging soldiers, honking horns, dancing, and singing: ‘Bob, you have sold out the country, remember we are the ones who put you there and we are now removing you.’

Ordinary Zimbabweans said they felt like they were dreaming after the 37-year-old dictatorship crumbled before their eyes.

Today’s protest represented a turning point for the southern African state, where for four decades the public criticism of Mr Mugabe has been met with brutal punishment and even death.

It came as Mr Mugabe was given an ultimatum of 24 hours to resign by the powerful National Liberation War Veterans Association. In a press conference, a spokesman for the group mocked the elderly dictator, saying: ‘Mugabe has no war background. He only came to the Front once. The closest Mugabe ever was to the fighting was 400km away.’

During the dictator’s rule, forced rallies were often staged to support him. By comparison, everybody attended today’s march of their own free will and there was not a single counter-protestor coming out in support of Mr Mugabe.

There were fears that today’s event may degenerate into violence, as happened in 2013 when crowds went on the rampage in Harare after an opposition rally.

The march began in a spirit of harmony, however, and the sense of liberation from the shackles of the dictator’s secret police was tangible.

Crowds gathered at football pitches close to the city centre and marched towards Freedom Square, formerly known as the Robert Mugabe Square, where a number of political leaders from all parties were to address demonstrators.

The security forces stood by as the demonstration, in contrast to previous year when protests were brutally quashed

The security forces stood by as the demonstration, in contrast to previous year when protests were brutally quashed

Buses were laid on by the Zanu-PF to ferry thousands of people to the capital to take part in the protest +20

Buses were laid on by the Zanu-PF to ferry thousands of people to the capital to take part in the protest

A woman holds picture of General Constantino Chiwenga, who led the coup against Robert Mugabe +20

A woman holds picture of General Constantino Chiwenga, who led the coup against Robert Mugabe

Some of the money for mobilising demonstrators was provided by the army, which spearheaded the attempt to remove Mugabe

Some of the money for mobilising demonstrators was provided by the army, which spearheaded the attempt to remove Mugabe

The historic rally was all the more remarkable for having been organised by Mr Mugabe’s own party, the Zanu-PF, which until Tuesday had treated the despot like a god.

All that changed today as formerly loyal party members openly called Mr Mugabe a ‘dictator’ and united their efforts in trying to force him to stand down.

Last night, activists armed with megaphones toured towns and villages all over the country in Zanu-PF branded vehicles, calling for as many people to attend the demonstration as possible.

Opposition parties followed the Zanu-PF’s lead, mobilising their grassroots network to ensure a major turnout amongst their own supporters.

It is thought that some of the money for mobilising demonstrators was provided by the army, which spearheaded the dramatic attempt to remove Mr Mugabe.

Buses were laid on by the Zanu-PF to ferry thousands of people to the capital to take part in the protest, thought to be the biggest demonstration of its kind in Zimbabwean history.

Mr Mugabe, meanwhile, remained defiant in his Blue Roof mansion, refusing to step down despite the massive pressure heaped upon him by his political rivals, foreign leaders and now his own people.

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook