After the Zimbabwe military appeared to take over control of the country overnight, here is a round up of the key events so far.
President Robert Mugabe has been placed under house arrest in the capital Harare, South African President Jacob Zuma has said.
President Zuma has also “expressed hope that developments in Zimbabwe would not lead to unconstitutional changes of government”.
Further, South Africa has said it will send special envoys to Zimbabwe to meet with President Mugabe and the military.
Earlier, Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo appeared on state television Tuesday saying the army had taken control temporarily while they target “criminals around [President Robert Mugabe] who are committing crimes… that are causing social and economic suffering in the country”.
The Mugabes were safe, he added, as he emphasised this was “not a coup”.
Zimbabwe’s war veterans say President Mugabe should be removed as the country’s leader and as first secretary of the ruling Zanu-PF party. The Secretary-General of Zimbabwe’s War Veterans Association, Victor Matemadanda, said the military takeover earlier on Wednesday was for the good of Zimbabwe.
State broadcasters have been playing patriotic songs from the independence period of the 1980s and re-broadcasting Major-General Sibusiso Moyo’s statement. They are reporting no other news.
A number of arrests have been made, including Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, a leading member of the ‘G40’ faction, led by Grace Mugabe.
Kudzai Chipanga, the leader of Zanu-PF’s youth wing, has been arrested in Harare, a day after he said his supporters were ready to die in the defence of President Mugabe. The youth wing supports President Mugabe’s wife, Grace, as his successor.
There is calm in Harare, despite the presence of troops on the streets.
Britain has advised its nationals to stay indoors “due to the uncertain political situation in Harare”.
The US embassy has warned its citizens to “shelter in place” due to “ongoing political uncertainty”.
Germany said “we see developments there with concern … The situation there is confusing and unclear”.
The military takeover came after Mr Mugabe sacked his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in favour of his wife, Grace.
Eddie Cross, an MP for the main Movement for Democratic Change opposition party, told BBC that he believes the move by the military is being masterminded by former VP Mnangagwa.
-Compiled from Agencies.
This is the best news in the world! I hope that demon dies and grace is dragged off to an isolated prison and executed for thr multiple murders she sanctioned over the years.
Selah.
Morning, Met
ROBERT NESTA MARLEY MUST BE SMILING IN HIS GRAVE!!!FREE ZIMBABWE WE SEY PP!!
Sooooo…coward grace run gone leave har hell mate! :ngakak :ngakak :ngakak :ngakak :ngakak
though unorthodox at times, a coup might be necessary method at times to alleviate or rectify a situation, the Zimbabwe that we come to know today was fought for and is not the property of any one central figure and their family, Zimbabwe is not Saudi Arabia or other lands in the middle east and Asia where the royal family belives the land belongs to them and the citizens of the land are merely their subjects and is at their will, Zimbabwe belongs to the people and that must be recognized, regardless of revolutionary stripes and decour or not, I hope that witch take the heed as she justfully deserve a nice drape and 2 hi powered box, Zimbabwe belongs to who fought for it, AND WHO FOUGHT FOR IT DICTATES ITS FUTURE, you on the other hand madame is not entitled, not even your sons, if you want to be a part of the decision making relating to the country’s future then join the line with the rest of the other political ambitious and the revolutionaries, kudos to the military general.
U mean Gucci grace ran away
A since week one a har son dem did ina gucci wid di poor people dem money dem too wicked
Please this is beginning of the full implantation of capitalism, SIMPLE!!
Ok, but Capitalism didn’t execute 20,000 people in 1983 and now.
Capitalism didn’t create the second (historically)super-inflation that saw people emptying their bank accounts and using wheel borrow to carry the currency to purchase a loaf of bread…which were scarce on shelves.
Capitalism is what Gucci Grace live on…why not the people?That nation is wealthy in resources.
Capitalism isn’t 100% , but it far better than a nation ruled by a despot, psychotics and thieves.
Whoever the west cannot rule will get overthrown, and a lot of false news propaganda to discredit the person/government…
Some of oonu are misled… The west rules Africa and have possession of African minerals, people like Mugabe try to defend this situation, but as said ??????
A Dat Mi Seh
Mugabe had good intentions but was corrupt , his children and wife were spending money the country did not have
Met, reports stated that hi better self was with the 1st wife, but the death of her and his son changed him. She devil woke up the evil in him.
The V.P. is deadly, so he’ll have to go as soon as one of the liberators or a descendant step up to do the right thing.
Long, long overdue. I actually thought they were going to sit there & let this man put him wife/family in power.
Gucci Grace free up now to go do what she does best full time – beat hotel room hos with electrical wire – & loww out the ‘I want to be president of Zimbabwe’ ting.