Q&A: What next for Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace?
Q Will they stay in Zimbabwe?
A It seems unlikely. Some in Mr Mugabe’s party have said he could stay, while military and political figures have attempted to play down the appearance of a coup. Nick Mangwana, head of Zanu-pf in London, told The Daily Telegraph recently that Mr Mugabe would be welcome to remain, saying: “Zimbabweans are not a vengeful people”. However, staying would leave Mr Mugabe open to criminal charges and the jubilation on the streets of Harare, the capital, yesterday suggested little empathy from the public. An exile, either forced or self-imposed, is now expected.
Q Where could they go?
A South Africa is the obvious destination, with the pair reportedly owning several properties in affluent suburbs in the country.
Their sons, Robert Jnr and Chatunga, both known for their lavish party lifestyles, have been spending time there in recent months.
However, doubt hangs over Mrs Mugabe’s legal standing in South Africa after she was alleged to have assaulted Gabrielle Engels, a 20-year-old Johannesburg woman.
Q Any other possible destinations?
A Singapore is one option. Mr Mugabe, 93, has been a regular visitor for health treatment since first going for help with an eye problem in 2011.
Mr Mugabe’s daughter, Bona, also did her master’s management degree in Singapore, while Mrs Mugabe’s shopping sprees there have hit the headlines.
Dubai, where Mr Mugabe is said to own a ten-bedroom mansion, Mexico, and even the Seychelles have also been named in speculation about where the pair could end up.
Q Will he face criminal charges?
A This could be a political as much as a legal decision. Despite the hatred with which Mr Mugabe is held in some quarters of Zimbabwe, he remains the father of the revolution to others.
Q Will the new administration want to go through public trials that could drag on for years?
A Much could depend on the political opposition and whether, now that they have achieved the primary goal of ousting Mr Mugabe, they will push for charges.
Q What about his money?
A Mr Mugabe is said to enjoy a billion-dollar fortune, and his wife “Gucci” Grace has become a figure of ridicule for her lavish spending habits. However, any attempt to claw back assets that some suspect Mr Mugabe and his family have been siphoning off from the state for years could prove difficult. Their property empire, which includes a £4 million South African mansion could be the obvious focal point of any financial backlash.