Robert Mugabe pleads for 'a few more days' as Zimbabwe war veterans' leader says 'the game is up'

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is said to have pleaded for "a few more days" in power as an influential group of military veterans warned his time was up. The group's leader Chris Mutsvangwa, an ally of the recently fired vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, said they would "settle the scores tomorrow" if Mr Mugabe did not step down. Zimbabwe remained in political limbo on Friday as the President looked to resist attempts to oust him following this week's military takeover. Mr Mutsvangwa said Mr Mugabe had asked for "a few more days, a few more months" amid negotiations with army chiefs over the end of his reign. He told reporters in Zimbabwe's capital Harare that "between now and tomorrow" they will warn the President that the game up. "He has to make a decision today to leave," he said "If he doesn't leave, we will settle the scores tomorrow." Mr Mutsvangwa is chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, which has close ties with and influence over Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party. The 93-year-old has insisted he remains in charge but looks almost certain to be forced from office, with his party stating there "is no going back". Senior Zanu-PF figures were set to meet on Friday to draft a resolution to dismiss Mr Mugabe and lay the ground for his impeachment if he refuses to stand down.

"If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday," a senior party source said. "When that is done, it's impeachment on Tuesday." Mr Mutsvangwa described President's appearance at a university graduation ceremony on Friday as a "pretence". It was the first time the President had been seen in public since being placed under house arrest. The war veterans leader said they were "on the same page" with South Africa's government, which has sent Cabinet ministers to negotiate with Mr Mugabe. The President of Botswana, Zimbabwe's neighbour, was among those calling for Mr Mugabe to go on Friday. Ian Khama said Mr Mugade had no diplamatic support in the region, adding military intervention presented "an opportunity to put Zimbabwe on a path to peace and prosperity". He added: "I don't think anyone should be President for that amount of time. We are Presidents, we are not monarchs. It's just common sense." Mr Mugabe was taken into military custody on Tuesday night during what the army described as a "bloodless correction". He was placed under house arrest at palatial presidential residence, Blue Roof, along with his wife Grace and some of his senior supporters. ​There was no sign of his Ms Mugabe, whose whereabouts were unclear, as her husband appeared at the graduation ceremony on Friday.

A helicopter hovered over his Presidential motorcade as it moved through the capital to Zimbabwe Open University. Several thousands graduates and guests stood as he entered a tent set up for the event with his security guards and other dignitaries. Wearing an academic gown and mortar board, he walked slowly along a red carpet in a procession to a podium as a marching band played. Once on the podium, Mr Mugabe joined the crowd in singing Zimbabwe's national anthem before announcing the opening of the graduation ceremony to applause.