HARARE - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, reportedly under house arrest, made his first public appearance on Thursday, a day after the military appeared to have taken control of the government.

The official Herald newspaper on Thursday published photographs of Mugabe meeting Zimbabwe Defense Forces Commander Constantino Chiwenga and South African envoys at State House, the presidential residence.

The meeting was also attended by Defense Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and State Security Minister Kembo Mohadi.

The 93-year-old Mugabe was pictured shaking hands with the military chief, who had issued a statement on Monday saying purges against senior ruling party officials would end "forthwith" after Mugabe fired Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his political ally for more than 40 years, over allegations of disloyalty and deceit.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, on Thursday urged Mugabe to resign.

"In the interest of the people, Mr Robert Mugabe must resign and step down immediately," Tsvangirai said.

The opposition leader said there must be a negotiated all-inclusive transitional mechanism agreed upon by all national stakeholders.

Tsvangirai once shared power with Mugabe in a coalition government between 2009 and 2013.

Also on Thursday, Mugabe's former deputy Joice Mujuru called for a transitional arrangement that would address issues of economic recovery and electoral reforms following the military takeover.

Mujuru, whom Mugabe fired in 2014 alleging she was trying to topple him, is now the president of the National People's Party. She also leads a grouping of opposition parties as its presidential candidate for the 2018 elections.

Call for calm

Mujuru said her coalition was urging Zimbabweans to observe the rule of law.

Apart from politicians, such stakeholders should include faith-based organizations, civil society, workers and students, she said. "We are in need of a transitional arrangement."

The military's move surprised the international community, which is calling for calm and restraint.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for calm in Zimbabwe and underlined the importance of resolving political differences through peaceful means.

He welcomed the efforts initiated by the Southern African Development Community to facilitate a peaceful solution to the situation.

China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing's policy toward Zimbabwe will not change despite the current situation, pledging to continue to advance friendly cooperation with Harare in line with the principles of equality and reciprocity.

"We sincerely hope that the situation in Zimbabwe will become stable and the issues will be resolved peacefully and appropriately," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.

Xinhua - China Daily

(China Daily 11/18/2017 page10)