The Latest on Zimbabwe’s political turmoil (all times local):<\/b>
\nHARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – The Latest on Zimbabwe \u2019s political turmoil (all times local):
8:15 p.m.
Zimbabwe \u2018 state-run broadcaster says President Robert Mugabe will meet Sunday with the army commander who put him under house arrest. This will be the second meeting as their talks continue on the longtime leader\u2019s departure.
The broadcaster cites Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori, who is called the chairman of the negotiating team.
Others on the negotiating team include acting intelligence director Aaron Nhepera and Mugabe spokesman George Charamba.
There was no mention of the South African envoys who took part in the first meeting earlier in the week. Mugabe is said to be resisting efforts to step aside.
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6:45 p.m.
A former Zimbabwe Cabinet minister tells The Associated Press the ruling party will recall President Robert Mugabe \u201cas early as tomorrow.\u201d
Former war veterans minister Tshinga Dube spoke as thousands of residents of the capital pushed closer to the official State House in a massive rally calling on Mugabe to go. He remains under military house arrest and is said to be resisting efforts to step aside.
Dube says \u201cwe are just going to properly send the old man away as early as tomorrow or so.\u201d
Provincial branches of the ruling party have passed no-confidence votes in Mugabe and called for the Central Committee to meet this weekend and recall him as party leader. They also want first lady Grace Mugabe recalled as head of the women\u2019s league.
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4:30 p.m.
Thousands of Zimbabweans have gathered near State House, President Robert Mugabe \u2019s official residence.
While Mugabe lives in a private mansion elsewhere, State House is where official functions are held. It is where negotiations have taken place for the departure of Mugabe, who is under military house arrest.
Huge crowds have rallied Saturday in the capital, Harare, in a demonstration backed by the military that urges the 93-year-old Mugabe to step aside after nearly four decades in power.
Mugabe \u2019s recent move to fire his deputy and position his wife to replace him led the military to step in.
The state-run Zimbabwe Herald reports that marchers are also making their way to the \u201cBlue Roof\u201d mansion where Mugabe lives.
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3:45 p.m.
Zimbabwe \u2019s political situation is set to be discussed Tuesday when four countries with the southern African regional bloc meet in Angola.
The Southern African Development Community summit will include the heads of state of South Africa, which has sent Cabinet members to negotiate with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on a departure.
Also attending are the heads of state of Angola, Tanzania and Zambia.
Mugabe is under military house arrest after he fired his longtime deputy and appeared to position his wife to succeed him. He is said to be resisting efforts to step aside.
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3:10 p.m.
South African President Jacob Zuma two days ago said Zimbabwe \u2019s political situation \u201cvery shortly will be becoming clear.\u201d Now Zuma says the situation is in \u201cearly days.\u201d
Zuma says he\u2019s cautiously optimistic it will be \u201cresolved amicably\u201d as Zimbabwe \u2019s President Robert Mugabe resists stepping aside.
Zuma spoke with Mugabe under military house arrest earlier this week and sent Cabinet ministers to negotiate on Mugabe \u2019s departure. He calls those talks \u201cfruitful\u201d but gives no details.
Zuma also says South Africa\u2019s government supports \u201cthe people of Zimbabwe during this difficult period.\u201d He reiterates the African Union\u2019s stance against \u201cunconstitutional changes in government.\u201d
Zimbabweans are rallying outside their consulate in neighboring South Africa in solidarity with thousands marching in their capital against longtime President Robert Mugabe .
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2:10 p.m.
Zimbabwe \u2019s state-run broadcaster is calling the country \u201cfree and liberated\u201d as the bulk of the capital\u2019s population seems to be streaming toward the official residence of longtime President Robert Mugabe in a call for him to leave.
The broadcaster is showing previously unthinkable footage of speeches at a rally where speakers declare that \u201cThis is the new Zimbabwe .\u201d
Mugabe is said to be resisting calls to step down even as he remains under military house arrest.
One speaker at the rally is expressing popular anger at first lady Grace Mugabe, whose apparent attempts to succeed her husband were a factor in the military\u2019s move.
\u201cYou and your husband should go today and not tomorrow,\u201d the speaker says.
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2 p.m.
Zimbabwe \u2019s military is urging the thousands upon thousands of people streaming through the capital to be orderly and \u201cvigilant against agent provocateurs\u201d who might wish to discredit the push to get longtime President Robert Mugabe to step aside.
The new statement read out on state-run television comes as much of Harare \u2019s population appears to be marching toward Mugabe \u2019s official residence, the State House. Mugabe lives in a mansion elsewhere in the city, however, and is under house arrest.
The military thanks the marchers and says its \u201coperation\u201d to arrest some top officials close to Mugabe and his wife continues.
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1:40 p.m.
Zimbabwe \u2019s state-run media are showing previously unthinkable images of demonstrations against President Robert Mugabe as several thousand exuberant people march toward his official residence, the State House .
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation showed footage of people streaming through the streets of the capital, Harare, and one person carrying a sign saying \u201cThe people of Zimbabwe want Mugabe to go.\u201d
The state-run Zimbabwe Herald newspaper reports the crowds are \u201cwanting to see President Mugabe out.\u201d
The report headlined \u201c#Mugabe Must Go!\u201d notes some of Mugabe \u2019s achievements in his nearly four decades in power but says that \u201chowever the revolutionary train derailed somewhere along the way.\u201d
The report says a rally with speeches has just ended at the Zimbabwe Grounds, where Zimbabweans in 1980 gathered to cheer Mugabe \u2019s return from exile after the liberation war from white minority rule. Now they want to see him off.
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1:15 p.m.
A former Zimbabwean Cabinet member says a \u201cmassive march\u201d is being held in the country\u2019s second-largest city.
Former education minister David Coltart says on Twitter he spoke at the march organized by churches in Bulawayo city to urge President Robert Mugabe to resign. He says thousands of people are there.
\u201cI never thought I would see the day as we marched past central police station without being arrested!\u201d he says. \u201cAmazing scenes.\u201d
Coltart says he called for the restoration of civilian rule and free and fair elections.
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12:25 p.m.
A Zimbabwean newspaper publisher is tweeting a plea that addresses concerns about who might lead Zimbabwe after President Robert Mugabe steps aside.
Trevor Ncube says: \u201cDear world, we are fully aware of the possible risks and pitfalls beyond this tipping point. We are confident we are equal to the challenges. We remember Egypt too.
\u201cAfter 37 years of repression, allow us to soak in this moment. Sincerely, # Zimbabwe.\u201d
Several thousand exuberant people have gathered in Zimbabwe \u2019s capital to urge Mugabe to go.
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12 p.m.
Some of the several thousand exuberant demonstrators in Zimbabwe \u2019s capital are removing street signs with the name of President Robert Mugabe and stomping on them, as pressure builds for the longtime leader to step aside.
The military, which put Mugabe under house arrest this week, has approved the demonstration that includes people from across the political spectrum.
The state-run broadcaster says it will be airing the speeches planned at the Zimbabwe Grounds, which was chosen for its symbolism. The location is where Zimbabweans gathered to cheer Mugabe \u2019s return from exile in 1980 after the liberation war from white minority rule. Now they want to see him off.
People of all races are marching by the State House, Mugabe \u2019s official residence, though he now lives in a mansion elsewhere. Soldiers guarding the State House are waving to the marchers.
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10:20 a.m.
Soldiers have begun approaching the several thousand demonstrators in Zimbabwe \u2019s capital and urging them to head to the Zimbabwe Grounds, where speeches are set to be delivered.
Saturday\u2019s events are an extraordinary show of support for the military\u2019s move to step in and put longtime President Robert Mugabe under house arrest. Impatient Zimbabweans are urging the reluctant Mugabe to step aside.
The Zimbabwe Grounds were chosen for the symbolism. The location is where Zimbabweans gathered to cheer Mugabe \u2019s return from exile in 1980 after the liberation war from white minority rule.
Now the crowds wish to meet there and urge Mugabe \u2019s departure.
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9:25 a.m.
Opponents of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe are preparing to demonstrate for the ouster of the 93-year-old leader who is virtually powerless and deserted by most of his allies.
Zimbabwe \u2019s generals have placed Mugabe under house arrest and have allowed him limited movement while talks on his exit from office unfold. But many Zimbabweans are growing impatient and want him to leave immediately.
Protesters hope a big turnout on Saturday will speed up the official end of Mugabe \u2019s rule, which is widely blamed for the collapse of an economy that was once one of Africa\u2019s wealthiest.
Euphoric crowds are gathering on some main streets in downtown Harare and motorists are honking their horns and people are whistling and cheering even as many go about their daily business.<\/p>\n

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