Zimbabwe military chief threatens to deal 'severely' with acts of revenge against Robert Mugabe regime

Zimbabweans celebrate after Mugabe quit
AP

Zimbabwe’s military chief today threatened to deal “severely” with any acts of revenge against members of Robert Mugabe’s regime as the jubilant country waited for the deposed leader’s former deputy to be sworn in as president.

At the end of a wild night of celebration on the streets of Harare, Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga urged “maximum restraint.”

The general, whose forces effectively seized power last week, said: “Acts of vengeful retribution or trying to settle personal scores will be dealt with severely.

“Zimbabweans across the political divide should exercise maximum restraint and observe law and order to the fullest.

Our vaunted character and tradition as a peaceful and law-abiding nation must now show in practical terms through unconditional observance of the law.”

His warning came after a bloodless coup that saw the 93 year old former guerilla leader deposed after 37 years in power since the country of 16 million people won independence from Britain.

Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga said: "Acts of vengeful retribution or trying to settle personal scores will be dealt with severely"
EPA

Mr Mugabe’s ex-deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa was set to return to Zimbabwe from hiding this evening, two weeks after he fled the country in fear of his safety following his sacking by Mugabe.

He is expected to be sworn in as the new President on Friday.

Celebrations in Zimbabwe following Robert Mugabe's resignation

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Mr Mugabe’s dramstic resignation yesterday came after ruling party ZANU-PF began impeachment proceedings against him.

Mugabe’s ex-deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa was set to return to Zimbabwe from hiding this evening
AFP/Getty Images

However, many Zimbabweans still harbour doubts about the 75 year old, who was internal security chief in the mid-1980s when Mugabe deployed a North Korean-trained brigade against rebels in Matabeleland during which up to 20,000 civilians were killed.

Zimbabweans calling for Mugabe to step down
Reuters

Piers Pigou, southern Africa senior consultant at conflict resolution body International Crisis Group, said: “The dark past is not going to disappear. They will be following him around like a piece of chewing gum on his shoe.

“For him to really be seen to be doing the right thing, he’s going to have to introduce policies that fundamentally undermine the power structures of ZANU-PF, through a shift to genuine political pluralism and a decoupling of the party and state.”

Mr Mnangagwa is nicknamed “Ngwena”, or crocodile in the Shona language, an animal famed in Zimbabwe for its stealth and ruthlessness,

Meanwhile China says it respected the decision of Mr Mugabe to resign as president of Zimbabwe and that he “is still our good friend.”

China’s foreign ministry said that Mr Mugabe “made historic contributions to the national independence and liberation cause in Zimbabwe” and “has long been committed to friendship between China and Zimbabwe.”

Ministry spokesman Lu Kang also said China hoped that other countries can hold back from interfering in Zimbabwe’s domestic affairs.

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