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.
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
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.
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."
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.”
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
Traffic into the Harare city centre is "picking
up", schools operating, city flowing normally, says Zimbabwean journalist
No confirmation from Robert Mugabe that he is under house
arrest
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
No need for SADC or SA to get involved in Zimbabwe, says former
ZANU-PF official Temba Mliswa
We are safer under the army, says former ZANU-PF official Temba
Mliswa
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.
President was part of this faction, but now it has backfired
on him - former ZANU-PF official
Temba Mliswa
First lady has usurped the powers of the Zimbabwe president
- former ZANU-PF official Temba Mliswa
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
ZANU-PF and ANC have long relationships, says UNISA lecturer
UNISA lecturer says Zimbabweans should
remain peaceful and calm
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
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
Zimbabwe war veterans leader praises army action as "bloodless
correction", says military will restore democracy - AP
Takeover of the state broadcaster is "Coup 101" -
The National
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
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
In Africa, Libya, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Gambia and Lesotho
have all faced recent coups or coup attempts
Army General SB Moyo says all leave for troops is cancelled,
orders troops to barracks
Only military messages are being aired on the state
broadcaster
"We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a
military takeover of government," says Zimbabwe army General SB Moyo
"Our wish is that you enjoy your rights and freedoms,"
says army General SB Moyo to Zimbabwe public
Army General SB Moyo says that judiciary is free to be
independent and MPs are free to "serve your constituents"
Army General SB Moyo guarantees safety of Robert Mugabe,
saying that the army is "gathering criminals around him"
