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Zimbabwe crisis: What we know so far

Wednesday November 15 2017
tanks

Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 15, 2017. PHOTO | REUTERS

By The EastAfrican

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.

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