Zimbabwe crisis: Army plots 'soft transition' after Robert Mugabe loses control in Harare and is placed under house arrest

The army took control of Harare on Tuesday and placed President Robert Mugabe under house arrest following days of tension
AP
Tom Powell16 November 2017

Zimbabwe’s military is calculating its next move after taking control of the capital Harare and the state broadcaster, while holding President Robert Mugabe under house arrest.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man whose firing as vice-president sparked the tensions, is expected to be formally made president later today as a transition process begins.

The army has denied staging a coup, although the head of the African Union said it “seems like” one following the extraordinary scenes in Harare.

The military’s actions appear to have brought an end to Mr Mugabe’s 37-year authoritarian reign. The 93-year-old, the world’s oldest head of state, is reported to be confined to his home but safe.

The action began when soldiers rolled in to Harare on armoured tanks on Tuesday night and seized broadcaster ZBC, which is seen by many as a mouthpiece for Mr Mugabe. Several explosions were also heard across the city.

In a statement, a military spokesperson described the takeover as a "bloodless correction". They said they had seized control to stop "criminals surrounding the president" from taking power.

Armoured tanks rolled in to Harare on Tuesday night as the military took over
AFP/Getty Images

It comes after military leader General Constantine Chiwenga issued a threat on Monday to "step in" and calm political tensions after Vice President Mnangagwa, who had been favourite to succeed Mr Mugabe when he retires, was fired.

His firing placed First Lady Grace Mugabe in prime position to replace him as one of the country's two vice presidents at a party conference next month. It is believed Mr Mugabe was lining her up as his eventual successor.

President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe have been seized by the army in Zimbabwe
Reuters

But the 52-year-old first lady is unpopular among many Zimbabweans for her lavish spending on mansions, cars and jewels. Last month she went to court to sue a diamond dealer for not supplying her with a 100-carat diamond she said she had paid for.

Mrs Mugabe has been known as the leader of the G40, a group of Cabinet ministers and officials in their 40s and 50s who are too young to have fought in Zimbabwe's war to end white-minority rule in Rhodesia.

When Mr Mnangagwa was fired, the generals and war veterans felt they were being sidelined and took action to stop that, analysts say.

Following the military takeover, South Africa and other neighbouring countries are sending in leaders to negotiate with Mr Mugabe and the generals to encourage the transition to a new leader.

South African President Jacob Zuma said he was sending his ministers of defence and state security to meet with Mr Mugabe and the military. He said he hopes Zimbabwe's army will respect the constitution and that the situation "is going to be controlled."

Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to be made interim president following the military takeover
AFP/Getty Images

In Washington, the US State Department said the Trump administration was "concerned by recent actions undertaken by Zimbabwe's military forces" and called on the country's leaders to exercise restraint.

Zimbabwean analyst Alex Rusero said that a "soft transition" is under way.

"The whole idea is that the military has always been the chief broker" in Mr Mugabe's ruling party, he said. "But there were attempts to sideline the military by G40 and (the military) are reasserting their position."

Mr Mnangagwa may well be installed as a transitional leader to return Zimbabwe to constitutional rule, Mr Rusero added.

Piers Pigou, southern Africa consultant for the International Crisis Group, said Zimbabwe may enter a period of negotiation to get Mr Mugabe to step down voluntarily.

"Zimbabwe could have some kind of inclusive government and some kind of democratic process, possibly leading to elections," Mr Pigou said.

"It's clearly a coup d'etat, but typical of Zimbabwe, the military is trying to put a veneer of legality on the process... It is part of the theatre that Zimbabwe is so good at, to try to make things look orderly and democratic.

"South Africa and other neighbouring countries may be brought in to help put some lipstick on the pig."

Citizens in Harare are said to be going about their everyday lives
Reuters

Citizens in Harare contributed to the feeling of a smooth transition by carrying on with their daily lives, walking past the army's armoured personnel carriers to go to work and to shops.

Many who have never known any leader but Mr Mugabe waited in long lines at banks to draw limited amounts of cash, a result of this once-prosperous country's plummeting economy.

Felix Tsanganyiso, who sells mobile airtime vouchers in Harare, said he was following the developments on WhatsApp.

He said: "But I am still in the dark about what is happening. So far so good. We are going about our business without harassment.

"My plea is that whoever takes over should sort out the economy. We are tired of living like this."

The series of whiplash events followed Mugabe's firing last week of his deputy, which appeared to position the first lady,

Critics of the government urged Mr Mugabe to go quietly. "The old man should be allowed to rest," former Zimbabwe finance minister and activist Tendai Biti told South African broadcaster eNCA.

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