Hundreds of the protestors are marching on the president’s luxury home after being urged to do so by a leader of the powerful liberation war veterans.

Secretary-general Victor Matemadanda told a rally in the Harare township of Highfield: "Let us now go and deliver the message that grandfather Mugabe and his typist-cum-wife should go home.” 

As he spoke, people started leaving the rally to head towards Mugabe's lavish "Blue Roof" residence, in Harare.

The war veterans were one fiercely loyal to Mr Mugabe and often used violence to intimidate politcal opponents and stamp out dissent. 

Earlier, jubilant crowds have filled city centre streets as moves to force the veteran leader to stand down gather pace.

Many of the demonstrators were waving national flags and singing and dancing in an outpouring of elation at the expected fall of the 93-year-old despot.

Marcher Fred Mubay said: “It’s like Christmas. We have been suffering for a long time and now we are finally happy."

Frank Mutsindikwa, 34, said: ”These are tears of joy. I’ve been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last."

Zimbabwe’s Public Service Minister Patrick Zhuwao said the popular protests had been orchestrated by the military to disguise its coup.

Mr Zhuwao, a nephew of of the president, said Mr Mugabe and his wife Grace are "ready to die for what is correct" and have no intention of stepping down in order to legitimise this week's military action.

Speaking from a secret location in South Africa, Mr Zhuwao said Mr Mugabe had hardly slept since the military seized power on Wednesday but his health was otherwise "good".

He said seven people died during the military takeover.

The military said it "fully supported” the "solidarity march" after being "approached by several private volunteer organisations seeking to freely move and express their desires”.

The army seized power four days ago but Mr Mugabe has so far refused to bow down to demands to leave office. 

Senior officers and ruling Zanu-PF party leaders now appear set on forcing Mr Mugabe out within the next 48 hours.

A senior member of ZANU-PF earlier said: "If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday.

“When that is done, it's impeachment on Tuesday."

The Herald newspaper reported ZANU-PF would convene a special Central Committee meeting on Sunday to "realign the revolutionary party with current political developments".

The army wants Mr Mugabe to leave office quietly and allow a transition government to be formed under Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking last week as vice president sparked the army action.

But the generals want to make sure Mr Mugabe cannot hand the leadership to his wife, Grace, 41 years his junior, who appeared on the cusp of power after Mr Mnangagwa was pushed out.

The “grand old man of African politics” appears to be running out of options with the army camped on his doorstep, Mrs Mugabe under house arrest and key political allies in military custody.

Police have shown no resistance to the coup and Chris Mutsvangwa, the leader of Zimbabwe's influential war veterans, said Mr Mugabe would not be allowed to resist the military and remain in power.

Mr Mugabe, in power since securing indepence from Britain in 1980, is still revered by some as an elder statesman and heroic freedom fighter.

But he is reviled by critics both at home and abroad who accuse him of violence, vote-rigging and corruption and of wrecking a once-prosperous economy.

South African President Jacob Zuma said the African region was committed to supporting "the people of Zimbabwe" after the military takeover and that he was cautiously optimistic that the situation there could be resolved amicably.

The president of neighbouring Botswana said Mr Mugabe no longer had any diplomatic support in the region and should resign at once.

Ian Khama said: “I don't think anyone should be President for that amount of time.

“We are Presidents. We are not monarchs. It's just common sense.” 

The US, a long-time Mugabe critic, said it was looking forward to a "new era" in Zimbabwe.