Zimbabweans join military in Harare march to force Mugabe out

HARARE – Zimbabweans are marching in the streets of Harare today, calling for the 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe to finally leave office.

The demonstrators have said that they declared Saturday an independence day so that people can remember the day they revolted against President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

The army took over government earlier this week, following the sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Harare has been brought to a halt as buses and cars are still arriving at the already full Zimbabwean Sports Grounds in Harare.

Free public transport has been organized to ferry marchers from throughout the country to take part in the demonstration.

An elderly woman says that she’s happy to have lived to see this revolution.

“I’ve never seen this in my lifetime. I’m happy to see everything changing.”

Residents say that they want the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) to know that they (Zimbabweans) support the military take over and want President Mugabe to go.

Many of those marching say the military takeover is a signal of a new dawn for Zimbabwe and its citizens.

It’s still unclear what the outcomes of ongoing talks between Mugabe and the army will be; but local councillor Luckson Mukunguma says Mugabe must go.

“The honourable words are Mugabe to pack and go. The issue of demands he’s putting across, those are delaying tactics and that can only be done from a place of a person who lacks wisdom. Mugabe should go.”

Zimbabweans were seen carrying posters that refered to the military as heroes for restoring hope that Zimbabwe will once again belong to the people.