The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe has been detained by the military in what appears to be a move to remove him from office and initiate a transition process.
Some of Mugabe’s cabinet ministers have also been arrested as the Military claims to be targeting persons it calls criminals around the president.
On Tuesday Zimbabweans were gripped with fear of a possible coup after military vehicles left the country’s main barracks in Inkomo and headed towards the capital Harare, just a day after military chiefs threatened to step in if current purging within the ruling Zanu PF doesn’t end.
Robert Mugabe and the leadership of his party, the Zanu PF were warned by the military leadership on Monday to stop sacking senior figures from the party, many of whom are war veterans.
The military said in a broadcast on Wednesday shortly after gun shots and explosions were heard in Harare that what has occurred was not “a military takeover of government” and stated that President Robert Mugabe was safe.
The statement was read out by Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo shortly after soldiers took over the headquarters of state broadcaster ZBC. Moyo said “We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes… that are causing social and economic suffering in the country. As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy,” the statement added.
Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front – Zimbabwe’s Ruling Party has been posting messages on its twitter account saying that “Last night the first family was detained and are safe, both for the constitution and the sanity of the nation this was necessary.”
‘’Neither Zimbabwe nor ZANU are owned by Mugabe and his wife. Today begins a fresh new era and comrade Mnangagwa will help us achieve a better Zimbabwe,’’ the twitter message added.
Zimbabwe has not had a coup. There has been a decision to intervene because our constitution had been undermined, in the interim Comrade E Mnagngawa will be president of ZANU PF as per the constitution of our revolutionary organisation.
— ZANU PF (@zanu_pf) November 15, 2017
Last night the first family was detained and are safe, both for the constitution and the sanity of the nation this was necessary. Neither Zimbabwe nor ZANU are owned by Mugabe and his wife. Today begins a fresh new era and comrade Mnangagwa will help us achieve a better Zimbabwe.
— ZANU PF (@zanu_pf) November 15, 2017
There was no coup, only a bloodless transition which saw corrupt and crooked persons being arrested and an elderly man who had been taken advantage of by his wife being detained. The few bangs that were heard were from crooks who were resisting arrest, but they are now detained
— ZANU PF (@zanu_pf) November 15, 2017
Last week President Mugabe sacked his vice president and long-time ally, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mr. Mnangagwa has fled the country.
Robert Mugabe has been leader of Zimbabwe since 1980 after leading his country to gain independence from the British.
Source: Africafeeds.com
