Though both the government and the opposition have strenuously denied the reports, many Zimbabweans were unwilling Tuesday to dismiss them so easily. "It has caused a glimmer of hope," said Brian Raftopoulos, a political scientist at Harare University.
Mugabe, 78, led the nation to independence from Britain in 1980. But after 23 years of his authoritarian rule, many of his compatriots say they would not be sorry to see him step down. "If it's true, the old crocodile must go. Now," said Moses Bangure, a store clerk in Harare told shoppers at his checkout counter.
The leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, has confirmed what he called a "clandestine" plan by independent mediators in which Mugabe would step down to clear the way for a caretaker government followed by presidential elections within two years. The mediators were representing two of the most powerful figures in the ruling party, Parliament Speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa and Gen. Vitalis Zvinavashe, chief of staff and commander of the armed forces. According to Tsvangirai, mediators said they had promised to deliver Mugabe's resignation.
"My own view is the offer could not have been made without Mugabe's knowledge and it is the beginning of a process," Raftopoulos said. Whatever the case, the idea won't go away easily. "There's a political stalemate in Zimbabwe, creating an ideal ground for a new initiative," Raftopoulos said. That was clearly the case Tuesday for a group of young doctors at a state hospital in Harare where basic drugs, surgical gloves and other supplies are in short supply. "Times are hard and it would be wonderful to see some changes," said one of several doctors gathered around a single copy of the state Herald newspaper. He said he did not want his name used.
Businessmen and factory owners also reported an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement. Hopes ran high that Mugabe's departure could lead to economic reforms that would end the now commonplace long lines for food and gasoline. Mugabe won a new six-year term in March elections. Independent observers said the elections were deeply flawed and the opposition, along with Britain, the European Union and the United States, said the voting was rigged and influenced by violence and intimidation. The political chaos and the government's isolation internationally has caused shortages of hard currency and essential imports. Disruptions in the agriculture-based economy and a severe drought have caused acute shortages of food.
During the past three years, Mugabe's government has seized most of Zimbabwe's thousands of white-owned commercial farms, calling it a justified struggle by landless blacks to correct colonial-era injustices that left 4,000 whites with one-third of the farm land. Mugabe's ruling party, Zanu-PF, has become almost dysfunctional but the opposition lacks the muscle and experience to confront it. Tsvangirai has said the opposition would not insist on Mugabe going into exile if he steps down. Malaysia was said to have offered Mugabe sanctuary.
But in Lusaka, Zambia, Mugage denied he would go into exile. "I was born in Zimbabwe and I won't go anywhere in exile. "I will remain in Zimbabwe and I will be buried on Zimbabwean soil,." Mugabe said during a ceremony honoring former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda for his work to liberate southern Africa from colonial rule. However, U.N. officials have confirmed that World Food Program chief James Morris is scheduled to visit Zimbabwe next week and has been told he cannot see Mugabe - who would still be on vacation. Earlier, the government had said Mugabe was due back this week. [End]
Morgan Tsvangirai said that Mr Mugabe's lieutenants had "all virtually abandoned him and maintain an appearance of loyalty out of fear. The machinery around Mugabe is now collapsing fast and leaking heavily." He claimed to have received reports from people close to Mr Mugabe that the 78-year-old leader had told his family to "get ready for life after his 23-year-old dictatorship".
Zimbabwe was "grinding to a halt", Mr Tsvangirai said. Its commercial agriculture was in ruins. The country's fuel supply would dry up at the end of the month and there was no money to buy more. "Mugabe does not know where the next litre of diesel or petrol is coming from," he said. Mr Mugabe's "greatest nemesis" was the economy, which "refuses to bend to all his dictatorial formulae. He cannot use on the economy the same weapons he is using to subvert democracy and crush human rights. He cannot rig it, he cannot shoot it, he cannot intimidate it and, although he raped it, the economy continues to land fatal blows that Mugabe cannot block."
Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), issued the statement to rebut a stream of denials from Mr Mugabe and Zanu (PF) that two of the regime's senior members had secretly offered him a deal to save Zimbabwe from its deepening emergency.***