African leaders were embarrassed by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and already encouraging him to step down before the army began moves last week to oust him, according to a secret Zimbabwean intelligence cable seen by Reuters.

The cable, dated Oct. 23 and written by someone within the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) to an unknown recipient, also says Mugabe spoke to South African President Jacob Zuma about his rivalry with Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice president whose sacking by Mugabe prompted the army action.

The 93-year-old president stepped down on Tuesday in the middle of impeachment proceedings from his own ZANU-PF party, after a week of pressure from the military and large crowds that thronged the capital at the weekend.