Zimbabwe's President
Robert Mugabe and his wife have reportedly been detained by the military
in a 'bloodless transition' of power - and the country's deposed
vice-president has returned from exile.
Army boss, Major Gen SB Moyo, President Mugabe and family are safe but
army is ‘targeting criminals around him'.
Military tank in the city of Harare. Photo source: Associated Press
Military tank in the city of Harare. Photo source: Associated Press
The army commander claimed to have stepped in to calm political tensions
over 93-year-old President Mugabe’s possible successor.
Soldiers take over the streets of Harare to control traffic on Wednesday
morning. Photo source: Reuters
Soldiers take over the streets of Harare to control traffic on Wednesday
morning. Photo source: Reuters
The ruling party has however accused the commander of “treasonable
conduct", according to a report by New York Post.
The U.S. Embassy has since issued a warning encouraging citizens to seek
shelter indoors ad avoid the political unrest on the street.
The Zimbabwean vice president sent on exile returned to the country
Wednesday morning. Photo source: Daily Mail
The Zimbabwean vice president sent on exile returned to the country
Wednesday morning. Photo source: Daily Mail
There were reports on Wednesday morning that some armed soldiers were
assaulting passers-by in the early morning hours in Harare, as well as
soldiers loading ammunition near a group of four military vehicles.
Three explosions could be heard near the University of Zimbabwe campus.
Watch the army broadcast below:
Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that the Zimbabwe’s army chief,
General Constantino Chiwenga on Monday, November 13, warned President
Robert Mugabe to end the purge in the country’s ruling Zanu-PF party or
the military will step in, BBC reports.
This came a week after Mugabe fired his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a
move widely seen as meant to clear the path for his wife, Grace, as his
likely successor.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Even
though the world is watching in apprehension, Zimbabwe's military
denies any coup is going on.
The United Nations has warned its personnel in Zimbabwe work from home.
This is as some schools were closed and some students failed to sit for
their final examinations, including at the University of Zimbabwe.
Officials at the president’s department have now been sent packing from
the departures desk at the recently renamed Robert Gabriel Mugabe
International Airport and replaced by soldiers.
The chief of staff (quarter-master) in the Zimbabwe National Army,
Sibusiso Moyo, appeared on state television early Wednesday morning
saying the position taken by the military since the statement made by
Zimbabwe’s Defence Forces commander, Constantino Chiwenga, Monday had
reached ‘another level’.
“Firstly we wish want to assure the nation that His Excellency the
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander in Chief of the
Zimbabwe Defence Forces and his family are safe and sound and their
security is guaranteed.
“We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes
that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order
to bring them to justice,” he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Reports
say Zimbabwe’s parliament building has been taken over by the military
with helicopters circling the city centre. At the moment, the country’s
police is not visible in the streets. Some of the cabinet ministers
including the one in charge of finance, loyal to Grace Mugabe, and some
top ruling Zanu-PF officials have been arrested.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The
CNN reports that President Mugabe and his family are safe even though
tanks have overtaken the country’s capital. "To both our people and the
world beyond our borders, we wish to make it abundantly clear that this
is not a military takeover of government," Major Geneneral SB Moyo said
in a televised statement.
But the report quotes Alex Magaisa, a former political aide to
ex-Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, as saying: "This is a
coup by any other name. They might be trying to give a fig leaf to the
notion that President Mugabe is still the leader. But de facto they are
obviously the military force." Read more: <a href="https://www.naija.ng/1135375-live-updates-military-takes-zimbabwes-capital-detains-mugabe-wife-top-offici.html#1135375">https://www.naija.ng/1135375-live-updates-military-takes-zimbabwes-capital-detains-mugabe-wife-top-offici.html#1135375</a><!--more--></div>
Zimbabwe's President
Robert Mugabe and his wife have reportedly been detained by the military
in a 'bloodless transition' of power - and the country's deposed
vice-president has returned from exile.
Army boss, Major Gen SB Moyo, President Mugabe and family are safe but
army is ‘targeting criminals around him'.
Military tank in the city of Harare. Photo source: Associated Press
Military tank in the city of Harare. Photo source: Associated Press
READ ALSO: Anambra election: Analysts reveal results of governorship
aspirants debate
The army commander claimed to have stepped in to calm political tensions
over 93-year-old President Mugabe’s possible successor.
Soldiers take over the streets of Harare to control traffic on Wednesday
morning. Photo source: Reuters
Soldiers take over the streets of Harare to control traffic on Wednesday
morning. Photo source: Reuters
The ruling party has however accused the commander of “treasonable
conduct", according to a report by New York Post.
The U.S. Embassy has since issued a warning encouraging citizens to seek
shelter indoors ad avoid the political unrest on the street.
The Zimbabwean vice president sent on exile returned to the country
Wednesday morning. Photo source: Daily Mail
The Zimbabwean vice president sent on exile returned to the country
Wednesday morning. Photo source: Daily Mail
There were reports on Wednesday morning that some armed soldiers were
assaulting passers-by in the early morning hours in Harare, as well as
soldiers loading ammunition near a group of four military vehicles.
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Three explosions could be heard near the University of Zimbabwe campus.
Watch the army broadcast below:
Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that the Zimbabwe’s army chief,
General Constantino Chiwenga on Monday, November 13, warned President
Robert Mugabe to end the purge in the country’s ruling Zanu-PF party or
the military will step in, BBC reports.
This came a week after Mugabe fired his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a
move widely seen as meant to clear the path for his wife, Grace, as his
likely successor.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Even
though the world is watching in apprehension, Zimbabwe's military
denies any coup is going on.
The United Nations has warned its personnel in Zimbabwe work from home.
This is as some schools were closed and some students failed to sit for
their final examinations, including at the University of Zimbabwe.
Officials at the president’s department have now been sent packing from
the departures desk at the recently renamed Robert Gabriel Mugabe
International Airport and replaced by soldiers.
The chief of staff (quarter-master) in the Zimbabwe National Army,
Sibusiso Moyo, appeared on state television early Wednesday morning
saying the position taken by the military since the statement made by
Zimbabwe’s Defence Forces commander, Constantino Chiwenga, Monday had
reached ‘another level’.
“Firstly we wish want to assure the nation that His Excellency the
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander in Chief of the
Zimbabwe Defence Forces and his family are safe and sound and their
security is guaranteed.
“We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes
that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order
to bring them to justice,” he said.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Reports
say Zimbabwe’s parliament building has been taken over by the military
with helicopters circling the city centre. At the moment, the country’s
police is not visible in the streets. Some of the cabinet ministers
including the one in charge of finance, loyal to Grace Mugabe, and some
top ruling Zanu-PF officials have been arrested.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The
CNN reports that President Mugabe and his family are safe even though
tanks have overtaken the country’s capital. "To both our people and the
world beyond our borders, we wish to make it abundantly clear that this
is not a military takeover of government," Major Geneneral SB Moyo said
in a televised statement.
But the report quotes Alex Magaisa, a former political aide to
ex-Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, as saying: "This is a
coup by any other name. They might be trying to give a fig leaf to the
notion that President Mugabe is still the leader. But de facto they are
obviously the military force." Read more: https://www.naija.ng/1135375-live-updates-military-takes-zimbabwes-capital-detains-mugabe-wife-top-offici.html#1135375
