'Did they swap the speeches?' Conspiracy theorists spot Zimbabwe Generals 'shuffling papers' as Robert Mugabe refuses to resign

Robert Mugabe stumbled through a long speech that with every paragraph seemed to be getting further away from the hoped-for end - his resignation.

The controversial speech sparked conspiracy theories. “Did they swap the speeches?!” one woman said. Initial disbelief at his refusal to resign quickly turned to distress, and then to anger.

“I’m sorry for cursing, but I’m really so angry," said one Zimbabwean in a bar just a few hundred metres from State House.

Viewers were glued to Whatsapp videos video appearing to show pages being shuffled off the table inches from Robert Mugabe.

The peculiar moment also went viral on social media, with Twitter users speculating that it may have been copies of the speech and that he may initially have been planning to resign.

Viewers likened the apparent sleight of hand to “the stuff of high school exam cheats”.

Others said the exchange was “very suspect”, with another asking: “since when do national leaders hide documents?”.

Another Twitter user questioned whether Mr Mugabe read the speech he had initially intended to.

Zimbabweans had gathered in the streets ahead of the address, in which Mr Mugabe failed to step down and instead vowed to oversee the party's December conference.

He appeared to hint at challenging the ruling party by trying to stay on during the speech while flanked by military officials.

"The congress is due in a few weeks from now. I will preside over its processes, which must not be possessed by any acts calculated to undermine it or compromise the outcomes in the eyes of the public," he said.

He added he was aware of “issues within Zanu-PF” and added the country must “learn to resolve contradictions in a comradely spirit”.

Officials close to the talks between Mugabe and the military had said the president would resign amid threats he would face impeachment on Monday.