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Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Zimbabwe military seizes power to stop ‘criminals’

South African citizens can travel to Zimbabwe, says govt

South Africans traveling to Zimbabwe must maintain regular contact with embassy.
News
1 hour ago
Sources said those arrested included higher education minister Jonathan Moyo‚ local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and finance minister Ignatius Chombo.
The military said in a statement that President Robert Mugabe was “safe and sound”. This came after armed personnel first began moving military vehicles into Harare on Tuesday.
The state broadcaster‚ the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation in Pocket Hills in Harare‚ was seized by the military at 4am.
Army spokesperson Major General Sibusiso Moyo announced that the military was now in charge for the purpose of ensuring that it dealt with the “criminals” that had surrounded Mugabe.
“We are only targeting criminals around him [Mugabe] who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice‚” Moyo said.
Mugabe has in the past spoken out against any military involvement in civilian affairs and given the stern rebuke that “politics leads the gun” in an attempt to tame his army generals’ interest in political affairs.
However‚ tensions escalated after Mugabe fired his long-time ally and former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa last week on grounds of disloyalty and a plot to take over power from him‚ triggering a pushback by the army generals.

Zimbabwe military seizes power to stop ‘criminals’

Zimbabwe’s military said it had seized power in a targeted assault on “criminals” around President Robert Mugabe.
News
2 hours ago
Army commander Constantino Chiwenga this week warned that the military would “step in” to deal with the spate of purges that had gripped the ruling party‚ ordering Mugabe to reverse his expulsions.
Zanu-PF’s youth league‚ led by Kudzai Chipanga‚ on Tuesday morning dared the military and insisted that it had no place in civilian affairs.
The military then began unexplained deployments of armoured vehicles from the Inkomo barracks on the outskirts of Harare‚ which attracted public attention and sparked a social media frenzy.
In an attempt to downplay the social media attention‚ the military indicated that its deployment of the army vehicles was a routine drill and there was no cause for alarm.
A statement issued on Tuesday night at 8pm by Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo warned that Chiwenga’s statements were “treasonous”— and was the first official response from government.
Mugabe is at his residence in Borrowdale‚ at his Blue Roof mansion‚ with his wife Grace and is under heavy military guard.
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Zimbabwe ministers arrested


A number of Zimbabwean cabinet ministers have been arrested after the military made a show of force in the capital Harare‚ according to sources.
Loud explosions and the sound of gunfire crackling in the elite neighborhood of Borrowdale throughout the night heightened fears that a military crackdown was under way.
Several sources said that the military had arrested the leading figures of the so-called G40 faction in the ruling Zanu-PF‚ led by First Lady Grace Mugabe.
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Mugabe 'preparing to step down' - senior source

Reports indicate that soldiers have taken over Zimbabwe's ZBC state broadcaster, compounding speculation of a coup against President Robert Mugabe, 93. Follow Live updates.
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On the ground I am now in town. State owned radio stations now only playing war time songs (songs that we used to play during the liberation struggle as well as the statement by the military.  
In the CBD army tanks are blocking all roads that lead to the official president's office, the Munhumutapa Building. They are also blocking roads leading to the Parliament Building, the High Court and the Defence Forces House.  
I am also told that there is heavy army presence to the road that leads to the President's rural Home in Zvimba, to the west of Harare in the Mashonaland West Province.  
Some parents have also prevented their children from going to school especially schools in Northern Suburbs and those close to the CBD.  
But at the moment it's all still calm with people going about their business although the volume of traffic is minimal. - Zimbabwe journalist Crecey Kuyedzwa in Harare
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Local flight operators say it is business as usual for now, as speculation of coup in Zimbabwe continues.  
Videos posted to twitter show that entry to Robert Gabriel Mugabe (RGB) International Airport is currently being monitored by Zimbabwean military.  
There have been conflicting reports regarding flight operations from Harare since the Zimbabwean military started sending tanks into the capital on Tuesday and have since taken over the public broadcaster, ZBC.
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Elections probably won't be held as scheduled, Rashweat Mukundu, an analyst with the Harare-based Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, said by phone.  
"The military is going to determine the shape of Zimbabwean politics, although they've tried to say this is not a coup," he said.  
"This may result in the creation of a new unity government which will involve the opposition."
08:31
The country is now under military rule, said Alex Magaisa, a Zimbabwean law lecturer who is based in the UK and helped design Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution. “When you see a man in uniform reading news on national television, you know it’s done,” he said in a text message. “There are no more questions. Authority is now in the hands of the military.”
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Adriaan Basson:
Verified reports confirm that Mugabe has negotiated for Grace to leave the country while he prepares to step down.
Press conference tomorrow afternoon. Soldiers indeed have the president and his presidential guard under siege. Zimbabweans are urged to stay away from the CBD tomorrow until further notice
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Traffic into the Harare city centre is "picking up", schools operating, city flowing normally, says Zimbabwean journalist
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No confirmation from Robert Mugabe that he is under house arrest
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Aggressive Zimbabwean soldiers told passing cars to keep moving through the darkness. "Don't try anything funny. Just go," one barked at Reuters on Harare Drive - Reuters
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No need for SADC or SA to get involved in Zimbabwe, says former ZANU-PF official Temba Mliswa
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We are safer under the army, says former ZANU-PF official Temba Mliswa
07:58
Zimbabwe's military seizes power, threatening Mugabe's rule
The armed forces seized power in Zimbabwe after a week of confrontation with President Robert Mugabe’s government and said the action was needed to stave off violent conflict in the southern African nation that he’s ruled since 1980.
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President was part of this faction, but now it has backfired on him - former ZANU-PF official Temba Mliswa
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First lady has usurped the powers of the Zimbabwe president - former ZANU-PF official Temba Mliswa
07:50
ZANU-PF has described as "treasonous" statements by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga that the military will not hesitate to take corrective measures when they felt the gains of the liberation struggle were under threat - Zimbabwe Herald
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ZANU-PF and ANC have long relationships, says UNISA lecturer
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UNISA lecturer says Zimbabweans should remain peaceful and calm
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The Zimbabwe army's takeover of the state broadcaster and action against some members of President Robert Mugabe's government has been praised by the chair of the Liberation War Veterans' Association.  
Chris Mutsvangwa, head of the war veterans' group issued a statement from Johannesburg praising Army General Constantino Chiwenga for carrying out "a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power". The statement said the army will return Zimbabwe to "genuine democracy".  
Mutsvangwa and the war veterans' group are staunch allies of Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was fired from his post of vice president by Mugabe last week - AP
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Zimbabwe finance minister Ignatius Chombo was a leading member of the so-called "G40" faction of the ruling ZANU-PF party, led by Mugabe's wife Grace, that had been vying to succeed the 93-year-old president - Reuters
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Zimbabwe war veterans leader praises army action as "bloodless correction", says military will restore democracy - AP
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Takeover of the state broadcaster is "Coup 101" - The National
07:32
Soldiers overran the headquarters of the ZBC, Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster and a principal Mugabe mouthpiece, and ordered staff to leave. Several ZBC workers were manhandled, two members of staff and a human rights activist said - Reuters
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Zimbabwean soldiers and armoured vehicles blocked roads to the main government offices, parliament and the courts in central Harare, a Reuters witness said on Wednesday - Reuters
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In Africa, Libya, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Gambia and Lesotho have all faced recent coups or coup attempts
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Army General SB Moyo says all leave for troops is cancelled, orders troops to barracks
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Only military messages are being aired on the state broadcaster
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"We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government," says Zimbabwe army General SB Moyo
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"Our wish is that you enjoy your rights and freedoms," says army General SB Moyo to Zimbabwe public
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Army General SB Moyo says that judiciary is free to be independent and MPs are free to "serve your constituents"
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Army General SB Moyo guarantees safety of Robert Mugabe, saying that the army is "gathering criminals around him"
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This official statement by Zimbabwean Army is being played on radio stations across Zimbabwe


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Breaking News: Is this the end of Mugabe's era?






(@News24)
#Zimbabwe LIVE: Mugabe 'preparing to step down', negotiates for Grace to leave the country – senior source ow.ly/kwiZ30gAsoU pic.twitter.com/XvuEnI3…
12 mins ago · Twitter

The New York Times
(@nytimes)

Breaking News: Zimbabwe's military said it had taken custody of President Robert Mugabe in what appeared to be a coup nyti.ms/2jtTzJ7
2 hours ago · Twitter

Trevor Ncube
(@TrevorNcube)

I am receiving unconfirmed reports of arrests of cabinet ministers and prominent people in Zimbabwe. I will share when names are confirmed. Remember the army said they are “targeting thieves around” President Mugabe #Zimbabwe
2 hours ago · Twitter

Dewa Mavhinga
(@dewamavhinga)

#Zimbabwe Military take over video published on#ZBC TV at 4am local time pic.
Breaking News: Zimbabwe's military said it had taken custody of President Robert Mugabe in what appeared to be a coup

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s military said early Wednesday that it had taken custody of President Robert Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state and one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, in what increasingly appeared to be a military takeover in the southern African nation.

After apparently seizing the state broadcaster, ZBC, two uniformed officers said in a short predawn announcement that “the situation in our country has moved to another level.” While denying that the military had seized power, they said that Mr. Mugabe 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,” said the main speaker, who was identified as Maj. Gen. S. B. Moyo, the army’s chief of staff.

General Moyo — who was not widely known to the public but who was considered close to the commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, Gen. Constantine Chiwenga — warned that “any provocation will be met with an appropriate response.”

Around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, taxis were running on the main roads leading to central Harare and people seemed to be making their way to work. Some soldiers could be seen on the main roads but were not stopping commuters.
Continue reading the main story


After the short announcement, commercials on farming and corn seeds appeared on the state broadcaster. There was no further clarification of the whereabouts or status of Mr. Mugabe, 93, who is the only leader his nation has known since independence in 1980.

Asked in a brief telephone interview about reports of a possible coup, the country’s information minister, Simon Khaya Moyo, said, “What can I say? I don’t know about that.” He did not elaborate.

The television announcement came after a long night of rumors and sketchy reports in Harare that a coup might be underway. The day before, in a remarkable act of defiance, General Chiwenga, had warned that “when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in.”

General Chiwenga was considered close to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom Mr. Mugabe summarily expelled from the government and the governing ZANU-PF party last week. The move was widely seen as clearing the path for Mr. Mugabe’s wife, Grace, 52, who had been amassing growing political power in the past two years as her aging husband’s health declined visibly.

Since his removal, the whereabouts of Mr. Mnangagwa, who like Mr. Mugabe was a veteran of the country’s struggle for independence, has been shrouded in mystery.
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