As Zimbabwe's economy has gone from bad to worse to disastrous in recent years,robert mugabe political and physical demise has been predicted many times but he has always confounded his many critics - until now.
However, it may be that by siding with his wife in the battle to succeed him, he has gone too far, and lost the support of the military leaders, who have kept him in power until now.
At the age of 93, his health has visibly deteriorated over the past year or so, even though he was still officially going to seek re-election next year.
Before the 2008 elections, he said: "If you lose an election and are rejected by the people, it is time to leave politics."
But after coming second to Morgan Tsvangirai, Mr mugabe displayed more characteristic defiance, swearing that "only God" could remove him from office.
And just to be sure, violence was unleashed to preserve his grip on power.
In order to protect his supporters, Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the second round and although Mr mugabe was forced to share power with his long-time rival for four years, he remains president of the country he has governed since 1980.
The key to understanding Mr mugabe is the 1970s guerrilla war where he made his name.


Robert Mugabe - Timeline
924: Born
Trained as a teacher
1964: Imprisoned by Rhodesian government
1980: Wins post-independence elections
1996: Marries Grace Marufu
2000: Loses referendum, pro-mugabe militias invade white-owned farms and attack opposition supporters
2008: Comes second in first round of elections to Tsvangirai who pulls out of run-off amid attacks on his supporters
2009: Amid economic collapse, swears in Tsvangirai as prime minister
2016: Bond notes introduced as cash shortage worsens
2017: Sacks long-time ally Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa
the military is calling the shots

Down the road from a fast-food joint serving peri-peri burgers and fries, three soldiers perch themselves on top of an armored personnel carrier to watch traffic.
The scene is what passes for normal these days in Harare.

The police are nowhere to be found in Zimbabwe capital. Usually they are everywhere, in their blue and white uniforms, often trying to fleece motorists for this or that.
They've been ordered to stay home.
Not even members of the Presidential Guard, who once said they would die for President Robert mugabe are calling the shots. In their yellow berets, they are confined to peering over the wall of their headquarters near the State House.
Right outside the gate: armored personnel carriers, rocket launchers, what appears to be a tank and soldiers inside army trucks.
The message is clear. While the 93-year-old mugabe is President on paper -- the army is in charge.
"The military says that it is not a coup. It is not a military takeover," said Morgan Tsvangirai, a longtime opposition leader and former Prime Minister. "But what I can say is that it is unconstitutional. Whatever you want to describe it as, it is unconstitutional."
Suddenly mugabe appears


A senior opposition leader told CNN that negotiations are ongoing to form some kind of transition government with sacked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
So where is the President? After ruling this country for nearly 40 years with an iron fist, he has been out of sight, but on everyone's mind.
mugabe then resurfaced Thursday in photos published by The Herald -- Zimbabwe's state newspaper.
There he is, wearing a blazer and slacks, seemingly having a friendly chat with Gen. Constantine Chiwenga, the leader of the armed forces who sidelined him. Or in a sitting room with Cabinet members from South Africa, enveloped in a cream armchair.
Robert mugabe appears in talks about his future in an image tweeted by the editor of The Herald.
The propaganda message from state media is clear -- a calm transition of power is underway. The military and Mnangagwa know that regional powers could be forced to step in if what's happening were called a coup.
There's no sign of first lady Grace mugabe To most Zimbabwe watchers her situation is perhaps the most precarious. She became a front-runner to succeed her husband when Mnangagwa went into hiding -- but Mnangagwa's dismissal was a high-risk, high-reward move.
Turns out, it was more high risk.


'What we need is bread to eat'
On the streets and on social media, a sense of optimism is visible among some Zimbabweans. mugabe has run this country for longer than most of them have been alive.
But the President has presided over a near-collapse of the economy and overseen brutal suppression of critics during his rule.
At a taxi stand near downtown, commuters jump in and out of minibuses in the rain. Many don't want to speculate about mugabe fate.
"We don't know what is happening. All we know is that the soldiers are in control of everything," a fare collector said.
One driver was more definitive: "Robert mugabe must leave. We need a new president. We need bread and butter.

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One day, we will be writing this for bubu

The hardship is a prize for freedom

Mugabe is the only African Leader who succeed in totally Liberating His people when he conduction the Land Reform and returned the 70% arable land which was seized the the Zimbabwean white farmers back to his people... guess you are not aware of that bc you maybe too young during the war.

But He is Too Old to rule...and they veterans are now looking for a successor ,

That requires Patients to avoid recolonization by the perceived treacherous opposition aligning with the British.