English News Lesson on Robert Mugabe: Thousands call for Zimbabwe’s Mugabe to resign — FREE worksheets, online activities, listening in 7 Levels…
There could be a big change in Zimbabwe. Thousands of people are in the streets asking for President Robert Mugabe to resign. The army removed President Mugabe from power on Wednesday. It was angry after Mr Mugabe fired his deputy president. This meant his wife, Grace Mugabe, could have been in line to take over as president. The army did not like this and took control of the capital city. The army said it wanted to remove the «criminals» around Mr Mugabe. Members of Mr Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party are calling for Mr Mugabe to step down as president. Even veterans of Zimbabwe’s war for independence are saying Mr Mugabe should quit. They were among Mugabe’s most loyal supporters.
Robert Mugabe is 93 years old and is the oldest leader of any country in the world. He became the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in 1980 and then became President in 1987. He has stayed in power for 37 years. Mr Mugabe was an important figure in Zimbabwe’s fight for independence. Zimbabwe used to be called Rhodesia and was a British colony. Mugabe was a key part of the 1965-1980 civil war against British rule. This war lead to elections in 1980. Robert Mugabe and the Zanu party won the elections by a landslide. Many people are now happy his time as leader is coming to an end. One street protestor, Frank Mutsindikwa, 34, said: «I’ve been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last.»
