Mugabe, world’s oldest leader, ousted
Zimbabwe's military is in control of the country and has taken custody of President Robert Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state and one of Africa’s longestserving leaders.
After apparently seizing the state broadcaster, ZBC, two uniformed officers said in a short predawn announcement that “the situation in our country has moved to another level. The officers also mentioned that Mugabe and his family were safe and sound. "We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes... As soon as we have accomplished our mission we expect that the situation will return to normalcy," Major General Sibusiso Moyo said. He also denied that there was a military takeover of government.
The ageing Mugabe, 93, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. Tensions between the veteran leader and the military, which has long helped prop up his authoritarian rule, have erupted in public in recent days. Mugabe’s poor health has also fuelled a bitter succession battle as potential replacements jockeyed for position.
Mugabe had summarily expelled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa from the government and the governing ZANUPF party last week. The move was widely seen as clearing the path for Mugabe’s wife, Grace, 52, who had been amassing growing political power in the past two years as her aging husband’s health declined visibly.
Mugabe’s lengthy rule has been marked by brutal repression of dissent, mass emigration, vote-rigging and economic collapse since land reforms in 2000. He was known for his proximity to the Chinese leadership. The question of who will succeed Mugabe has long haunted Zimbabwe and its political class. The uncertainty is likely to continue for some time.