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Robert Mugabe 'under house arrest' in Zimbabwe after army seizes control Robert Mugabe 'under house arrest' in Zimbabwe after army seizes control
(35 minutes later)
President Robert Mugabe is under house arrest after the military seized control of Zimbabwe, South African president Jacob Zuma has said.President Robert Mugabe is under house arrest after the military seized control of Zimbabwe, South African president Jacob Zuma has said.
Mr Zuma spoke to the 93-year-old leader who said he was "confined to his home" but "fine", according to an official statement released by the South African president's office. Mr Zuma spoke to the 93-year-old leader who said he was "confined to his home" but "fine", according to an official statement released by the South African president's office.
He is also in contact with the Zimbabwean Defence Force (ZDF), the statement said.He is also in contact with the Zimbabwean Defence Force (ZDF), the statement said.
South Africa is sending envoys to meet with Mr Mugabe and the military, the government said. South Africa said it was sending envoys to meet with Mr Mugabe and the military.
Access was blocked to government buildings and courts in the capital, residents said on Wednesday. There were also unconfirmed reports of gunfire near Mr Mugabe's private residence in the early hours of the morning. The statement from the South African President came after AFP reported gunfire near Mr Mugabe's private residence in Harare in the early hours of the morning.
But the armed forces denied staging a military coup, saying that once they have completed their “mission”, the country will return to “normalcy”. "From the direction of his house, we heard about 30 or 40 shots fired over three or four minutes soon after 2.00 am," a resident who lives near the leader's mansion in the suburb of Borrowdale said.
After taking control of state TV in the early hours of Wednesday morning, an army spokesman announced the military was targeting people close to President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, who had caused "social and economic suffering". After the army took control of state TV early on Wednesday, a spokesman announced it was targeting people close to Mr Mugabe who it said caused "social and economic suffering".
A statement read out by Major General Sibusiso Moyo gave assurances that the 93-year-old leader and his family were “safe and sound”. The leader has not yet appeared or given a statement himself. A statement read out by Major General Moyo gave assurances the 93-year-old leader and his family were “safe and sound”. The leader has not yet appeared or given a statement himself.
Gen Moyo insisted the army was only targeting criminals around [Mr Mugabe] who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," he said. The army has denied staging a military coup, saying that once it has completed its “mission”, the country will return to “normalcy”.
"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy." Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence from white minority rule in 1980.
He said the army wanted to make it “abundantly clear” that the move was not a military takeover. The military takeover comes after the leader last week fired vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Instead, he claimed “what the Zimbabwe defence forces are doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation in our country, which if not addressed may result in a violent event." Mr Mnangagwa – who enjoyed the military's backing – fled Zimbabwe last week but said he would return to lead the country.
More than 100 senior officials allegedly supporting him have been listed for disciplinary measures by a faction associated with Mr Mugabe's wife Grace.
The first lady appeared positioned to replace Mr Mnangagwa as one of the country's two vice presidents at a special conference of the ruling party in December, leading many in Zimbabwe to suspect she could succeed her husband.
Ms Mugabe is deeply unpopular with some Zimbabweans because she is seen to spend lavishly spending as many struggle.