Mugabe and wife placed under house arrest

Many residents of Harare continue to go about their normal business

Zimbabwe’s military is in control of the country’s capital, Harare, and the state broadcaster, while holding President Robert Mugabe and his wife under house arrest.

In what appeared to be a coup against Mugabe, the military was at pains to emphasise it was starting a process to restore Zimbabwe’s democracy.

The military appears to have brought an end to Mr Mugabe’s 37-year reign in what supporters praised as a “bloodless correction.”

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.

The series of events followed Mugabe’s firing last week of his deputy, which appeared to position the first lady, Grace Mugabe, to replace Emmerson Mnangagwa as one of the country’s two vice-presidents at a party conference next month.

But the 52-year-old first lady is unpopular among many Zimbabweans for her lavish spending on mansions, cars and jewels.

In a televised address to the nation yesterday, Major General Sibusiso Moyo said the army had “guaranteed” the safety of Mr and Mrs Mugabe, but added the military would target “criminals” around him.

South African President Jacob Zuma said he was sending his ministers of defence and state security to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the military there.

He said he hopes Zimbabwe’s army will respect the constitution and that the situation “is going to be controlled.”

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.

Picture: AP. The army has “guaranteed” the safety of Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace.