Mr Mugabe has railed against the country's judiciary as a racist vestige of British colonialism.
Mr Mugabe insists that he won the election in June and must be recognised as president.
Is Mr Mugabe behind these alleged plots or does he just quietly endorse them?
ECONOMIST: Will Morgan Tsvangirai wield real power? Not yet, it seems
Equally notable was the failure of Mr Mugabe, their commander-in-chief, to comment on their snub.
ECONOMIST: Will Morgan Tsvangirai wield real power? Not yet, it seems
But a motion to censure Mr Mugabe was blocked by opposition from South Africa.
Few imagine that Mr Mugabe would hesitate to give the order to open fire.
Mr Mugabe's support comes from the Shona, who make up 75% of Zimbabwe's population.
But if Mr Mugabe goes peacefully, there will be a surge of international goodwill and aid.
The damage that Mr Mugabe has inflicted on Zimbabwe is grave, but it is not irreparable.
Given the state to which Mr Mugabe has reduced the country, a palace coup is possible.
After the election, Mr Mugabe wanted to reward his foot-soldiers and punish his enemies.
Mr Mugabe has promised price controls and measures to promote black ownership of businesses.
Talk in high places about removing Mr Mugabe, perhaps even by force, is no longer deemed outlandish.
So 89-year-old Mr Mugabe will be able to stand for re-election in a poll expected in July.
Yet, with Mr Mugabe still holding the main levers of power, violence and intimidation have not abated.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party was also accused of unleashing violence against MDC supporters, an allegation it denied.
Mr Mugabe snootily calls Mr Tsvangirai an "ignoramus" because of his humble background and lack of education.
Mr Mugabe may get his parliamentary majority in April, but the cost to Zimbabwe will be high.
Yet, even with all this help, Mr Mugabe may have trouble getting himself re-elected, let alone credibly.
He claims Mr Mugabe's presence will "divert attention" from big issues such as poverty, climate change and health.
Mr Mbeki's new frustration could signal that other African leaders are about to respond to Mr Mugabe's misrule.
Mr Mugabe will be contesting the election later this year, hoping to secure another five-year term in office.
Mr Mugabe's main critic on the international scene, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, seems to have been outmanoeuvred.
But Mr Mugabe continues, in his speeches, to promise to seize land without compensation, for the rural poor.
Mr Mugabe has resorted to desperate measures, including price controls on staple foods and a fixed exchange rate.
But Mr Mugabe has shown that bullying works, at least to a degree: it saved him from defeat.
Mr Mugabe's mortality terrifies the security bosses and hardliners in his Zanu-PF party.
The leaders of neighbouring Botswana and Zambia are despairing of Mr Mugabe's antics.
Mr Mugabe's actual birthday was nine days ago, but this weekend was the chance for his supporters to celebrate.
Mr Muluzi said he had had every assurance from Mr Mugabe: his government would follow the rule of law.
应用推荐