Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, center, stands for the national anthem after arriving to preside over a student graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University on the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Mugabe is making his first public appearance since the military put him under house arrest earlier this week. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Harare, Nov. 17, 2017 (AltAfrika)-Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has attended a public engagement for the first time since the military takeover. Despite a full but ‘bloodless’ military coup, Mugabe has refused to step down.

His first public appearance after being put under house arrest is at a university graduation ceremony on the outskirts of Harare. Clad in academic gown and hat, Mugabe, 93, walked slowly in a procession on a red carpet to a podium as a marching band played.

Video by Enca

Several thousand graduates of the Zimbabwe Open University and guests stood as Mugabe and other dignitaries entered a tent set up for the event. Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, stands for the national anthem after arriving to preside over a student graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, center-right, arrives to preside over a student graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University on the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Mugabe is making his first public appearance since the military put him under house arrest earlier this week. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Mugabe is making his first public appearance since the military put him under house arrest earlier this week .Once on the podium, Mugabe joined in with the crowd as they started singing Zimbabwe’s national anthem. He announced the opening of the graduation ceremony, and the crowd applauded. Mugabe’s presidential security detail was present through the appearance

Metro