Eight out of the ten provincial committees of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party called on President Robert Mugabe to step down, China’s Xinhua news agency reported citing the state broadcaster on Friday.

The call came after the military takeover of the government earlier this week.

The provinces, including his home province of Mashonaland West, accused Mugabe of allowing the formation of cabals and called for the renunciation of the G40 faction allegedly led by first lady Grace Mugabe.

The provinces, according to the report, proposed that former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa be reinstated back in the party and the government.

There were also recommendations for the central committee to convene a special meeting within 48 hours to re-align the party in line with current developments.

The country's influential war veterans' association, meanwhile, urged Zimbabweans to come out in numbers and attend a rally in Harare on Saturday in support of the action taken by the military.

The military has said it is engaging Mugabe on the way forward.

On Thursday, Mugabe met the Zimbabwe Defence Forces chief Constantino Chiwenga and SADC mediators to discuss the political impasse.

- Bernama