A man walks by Zimbabwe's parliament in Harare as Parliament prepares to start impeachment proceedings against President Robert Mugabwe, November 21, 2017.(AFP/Mujahid SAFODIEN)
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s parliament opened a session on Tuesday to begin the process of impeaching President Robert Mugabe, which could lead to him being stripped of office.
Parliament speaker Jacob Mubenda gave permission for a joint session of the House of Assembly and the Senate to debate a motion that would trigger impeachment proceedings against Mugabe.
“This motion is unprecedented in the history of post-independence Zimbabwe,” Mubenda declared.
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe delivers a speech during a graduation ceremony at the Zimbabwe Open University in Harare, where he presides as the Chancellor on November 17, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA)
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have called on Mugabe to quit after the military seized power and tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets to demand the 93-year-old’s resignation.
Zimbabweans gather at Unity Square opposite parliament to protest against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Harare, November 21, 2017. (AFP)
They accuse him of allowing his ambitious wife Grace to plunder the country and to usurp his power.
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She emerged as the front-runner to replace the veteran leader when Mugabe fired his vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
That prompted the current crisis as the army, alarmed by Grace’s rise, deployed armored vehicles on the streets and took power.
There were tense protests outside parliament as hundreds of demonstrators — from rival political parties — shouted for Mugabe to go.
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