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Mugabe makes 'academic' public appearance, first since army takeover

Zimbabwe

Embattled Zimbabwean president Robert Gabriel Mugabe made his first public appearance in the wake of the military takeover on Wednesday.

The 93-year-old joined a graduation ceremony at the Zimbabwe Open University in the capital Harare. The last photos of him before today was during a meeting on Thursday with the army chief and negotiators from South Africa and the country’s Catholic church.

Mugabe appeared wearing a blue and yellow academic gown with a cap, “sat in large wooden chair at the front the hall. He was greeted by ululations from the crowd as he declared the ceremony open,” Reuters news agency said.

Despite opening the ceremony he did not make any public pronouncements keeping in tradition with the usual process. He, however, conferred degrees on deserving students. Reports indicate he has since left the premises.

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