Zimbabwe's Mugabe ends TV speech without resigning

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe made his first television appearance since the military intervention on Sunday night, but despite wide expectations that he would announce his resignation, the 93-year-old instead said the country needs to “return to normalcy”.

Zimbabweans closely watched Mugabe’s live address on the national television, but many who expected him to step down were left disappointed.

Following the events in the past week, millions of people wanted to hear Mugabe announce his resignation following his party's decision to recall and expel him from the ruling ZANU PF party.

In a televised speech read in the presence of the country military chiefs, Mugabe acknowledged the concerns raised by the army as well as his own party.

He called for respecting the constitution, "and the need to address differences amicably".