Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose ousting by Mugabe prompted military intervention amid fears 52-year-old Grace Mugabe may be set to take over as president, is the latest in a series of influential figures to demand an end to Mugabe’s 37-year reign.
In a statement, Mnangagwa said Mugabe needed to heed the “clarion call” of his people and step down.
He revealed he fled the country following a threat to his life after being ousted earlier this month and despite being urged to return to Zimbabwe by Mugabe, said he could not come back until his personal security could be guaranteed.
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He said in a statement: “I told the President that I would not return home now until I am satisfied of my personal security, because of the manner and treatment given to me upon being fired.
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“Given the events that followed my dismissal I cannot trust my life in President Mugabe’s hands.
“Security personnel, who are friendly to me, warned me that plans were underfoot to eliminate me once arrested and take me to a police station. It was in my security interest to leave the country immediately.”
He reveals he told the 93-year-old that the current constitutional crisis was a matter between the people of Zimbabwe and him, rather than a spat between Mnangagwa and Mugabe.
Mr Mnangagwa continues to say the president has two options: to cooperate in order to find a peaceful solution to the crisis and protect Mugabe’s legacy, or continue to frustrate the people of Zimbabwe and eventually suffer humiliation.
Although many expected Mr Mugabe to announce his resignation on Sunday evening in his televised statement, it has now been reported that Zanu-PF decided he would not step down in front of the military generals and instead his speech was designed to show the military intervention was not a coup.
Following the army’s intervention last week in response to Mugabe’s sacking of vice president Mnangagwa, it has become clear that Mugabe’s 37-year tenure as the Zimbabwean president will shortly come to an end amid widespread demands for his resignation.
It had been feared that Mugabe’s 52-year-old wife Grace would succeed her husband as leader, but it now appears as though it is only a matter of time before Mr Mnangagwa takes over as president.
Mugabe had been expected to announce his resignation in a televised speech last night, but instead told viewers he would continue to preside over his party at a congress next month.
In a rambling 30-minute address, Mugabe insisted he was going nowhere in an announcement that stunned people across the world.
Meanwhile, the leader of Zimbabwe’s war veterans, Chris Mutsvangwa, said he would initiate court action to legalise the military action against Mugabe after the army seized power on Wednesday.