Mugabe in memes: How the internet is reacting to Zimbabwe military coup
As Mugabe misses his deadline to resign as president, the internet is having a bit of fun.
Robert Mugabe is still clinging on as Zimbabwe president six days after a military coup began against him – and the internet is having as much fun as ever mocking the situation.
Mugabe missed the deadline given to him by the ruling Zanu-PF party of noon on Monday (10am GMT) to resign or be impeached. Just a day earlier, the 93-year-old read a long speech on state TV about the need for the country to "return to normalcy". He was fired as party leader and replaced with former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking by Mugabe sparked the current crisis, but Mugabe has so far refused to stand down as president.
According to Reuters, Zambia has sent former president Kenneth Kaunda to Harare to try and persuade Mugabe to step down in a "dignified exit". Meanwhile, Zanu-PF has called all of its MPs and senators to a meeting at its headquarters to discuss Mugabe's impeachment, just two hours after his missed deadline.
On Sunday, Mugabe's son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe showed his steadfast support for his father in a Facebook post. Using his father's clan name of Gushungo, he wrote: "You can't fire a Revolutionary leader ! Zanu Pf is nothing without President Mugabe. Gushungo will always remain the champion of champions! Proud of you Gushungo Proud of Dad. Gushungo always and forever to death."
But not everyone used social media in such a sincere way, with many creating memes to mock Mugabe's clinging onto power.
After Mugabe missed the noon deadline on Monday (20 November) to resign or be impeached:
#Mugabe misses noon deadline. Zzzzzzzzzzimbabwe wake up call.ð¿ð¼ pic.twitter.com/X5pHRfWUU1
— Neal Collins (@nealcol) November 20, 2017
After Mugabe failed to resign as expected on Sunday (19 November):
I guess this meme has to wait Abit. #Mugabe #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/qOz8Xb9pCZ
— Benjamin Kaddu (@BenKadd) November 19, 2017
Yâall thought I was gone? Thatâs funny #Zimbabwe #Mugabe #ZANUPF #RobertMugabe #coup #notacoup #resignation #notaresignation #mugabespeech #speech #meme #like #retweet pic.twitter.com/HLD7iLQGok
— Mustapha (@mustaphali6) November 19, 2017
Robert #Mugabe shocks the world, heâs still refusing to resign as Zimbabweâs President! pic.twitter.com/Eg6yUSdy2j
— Drew Foster (@drewfoster0) November 20, 2017
After Grace Mugabe fled to Namibia as the military coup began:
#BreakingNews : Grace Mugabe spotted at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/6Itlmmu7X0
— Mampara of The Day (@dailymampara) November 15, 2017
That moment when you realise you might have to move to South Africa ðð #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/25Iho9NfrU
— Mampara of The Day (@dailymampara) November 14, 2017
Mugabe and cronies waiting to get out of Harare....#Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/rhnvGnwJVF
— Jacques (@jmalan31) November 15, 2017
And one more meme for good luck:
While you're all waiting.... I thought I'd make you a meme ðð¿ð¼ #zimbabwe #mugabe #thisflag pic.twitter.com/IJlk1b5uMq
— Mel Deacon (@Pretty_Flash) November 19, 2017