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Mugabe allies hit out at Zimbabwe army chief | Mugabe allies hit out at Zimbabwe army chief |
(35 minutes later) | |
Allies of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe have warned the military chief against meddling in politics. | Allies of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe have warned the military chief against meddling in politics. |
Gen Constantino Chiwenga had said the army was prepared to intervene to end purges within the ruling Zanu-PF party. | Gen Constantino Chiwenga had said the army was prepared to intervene to end purges within the ruling Zanu-PF party. |
His comments came a week after Mr Mugabe sacked his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has fled into exile. | His comments came a week after Mr Mugabe sacked his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has fled into exile. |
But the Zanu-PF's Youth League, which backs President Mugabe's wife Grace to replace Mr Mnangagwa, told the army chief to "stay in the barracks". | But the Zanu-PF's Youth League, which backs President Mugabe's wife Grace to replace Mr Mnangagwa, told the army chief to "stay in the barracks". |
Meanwhile, BBC correspondents in the capital, Harare, report that a few armoured vehicles have been seen on a main public road outside the city having left one of the country's main military barracks, Inkomo. | |
It is not clear where they were heading but they have not been seen on the streets of Harare. One of the vehicles had broken down on the side of the road. | It is not clear where they were heading but they have not been seen on the streets of Harare. One of the vehicles had broken down on the side of the road. |
The leader of the Zanu-PF youth wing, Kudzai Chipanga, said his members would not allow the armed forces to subvert the constitution and were prepared to die to defend President Mugabe. | The leader of the Zanu-PF youth wing, Kudzai Chipanga, said his members would not allow the armed forces to subvert the constitution and were prepared to die to defend President Mugabe. |
He told a press conference in the capital, Harare, that the military chief did not enjoy the support of the "entire defence force". | He told a press conference in the capital, Harare, that the military chief did not enjoy the support of the "entire defence force". |
"We will not sit and fold hands while threats are made against a legitimately elected government," he said. | "We will not sit and fold hands while threats are made against a legitimately elected government," he said. |
Gen Chiwenga appeared at a news conference on Monday with another 90 senior army officers present. | Gen Chiwenga appeared at a news conference on Monday with another 90 senior army officers present. |
He had said the "current purging" that targeted "members of the party with a liberation background" should stop. | He had said the "current purging" that targeted "members of the party with a liberation background" should stop. |
The country's state-linked media have observed a blackout on his remarks - the Herald newspaper took down an article it had initially posted on its website about his warning, the Zimbabwe Mail reports. | The country's state-linked media have observed a blackout on his remarks - the Herald newspaper took down an article it had initially posted on its website about his warning, the Zimbabwe Mail reports. |
Mr Chipanga also asked the general to account for some $15bn (£11bn) of diamond mining revenues, which President Mugabe said last year was missing from state coffers, blaming foreign mining firms. | Mr Chipanga also asked the general to account for some $15bn (£11bn) of diamond mining revenues, which President Mugabe said last year was missing from state coffers, blaming foreign mining firms. |
The BBC's Shingai Nyoka, in Harare, says at one time there was a partnership between the army's mining company and a Chinese firm that was prospecting in the rich Marange diamond fields in the east of the country. | The BBC's Shingai Nyoka, in Harare, says at one time there was a partnership between the army's mining company and a Chinese firm that was prospecting in the rich Marange diamond fields in the east of the country. |
The ongoing tussle within Zanu-PF is about who will succeed President Mugabe, who is 93-years-old. | The ongoing tussle within Zanu-PF is about who will succeed President Mugabe, who is 93-years-old. |
Its youth wing backs Mr Mugabe's wife Grace, who is now the favourite to succeed her husband. She has referred to the sacked vice-president as a snake which "must be hit on the head". | Its youth wing backs Mr Mugabe's wife Grace, who is now the favourite to succeed her husband. She has referred to the sacked vice-president as a snake which "must be hit on the head". |
Mr Mnangagwa, nicknamed the "crocodile", has rebuked Mr Mugabe, saying Zanu-PF is "not personal property for you and your wife to do as you please". | Mr Mnangagwa, nicknamed the "crocodile", has rebuked Mr Mugabe, saying Zanu-PF is "not personal property for you and your wife to do as you please". |