Shun violence in Harare unrest, begsTheresa May
THERESA May has called for an avoidance of violence in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe has been detained by the military following a night of unrest.
The Prime Minister said the situation in the southern African country was “fluid” and urged “restraint on all sides” as the army deployed at key strategic locations in the capital, Harare, and seized control of the state broadcaster.
She said the government’s primary concern was the safety of UK nationals in the former British colony, and urged expats in Harare to stay “safely at home” until the situation becomes clearer.
South African President Jacob Zuma said he has spoken to Mr Mugabe, stressing the 93-year-old is “fine” but confined to his home.
Zimbabwe’s army said it also has his wife, Grace, in custody and is securing government offices, sparking suggestions of a coup, although its supporters have described the action as a “bloodless correction”.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mrs May said: “We have all seen what has been taking place in Harare.
“We are monitoring those developments very carefully, the situation is still fluid, and we would urge restraint on all sides because we want to see and we would call for an avoidance of violence. Of course, our primary concern is the safety of British nationals in Zimbabwe.
“(There is) obviously an uncertain political situation, we do see reports of unusual military activity, so we would recommend British nationals in Harare to remain safely at home until the situation becomes clearer.”
Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since Zimbabwe’s independence from white minority rule in 1980, is being opposed by the military for the first time despite becoming an international pariah for his authoritarian leadership.
The army’s move comes after the President last week fired his VicePresident, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who then fled Zimbabwe but said he would return to lead the country.
Grace Mugabe, who is unpopular with some Zimbabweans for her lavish spending while many struggle in poverty, had appeared poised to replace Mr Mnangagwa, leading to speculation she could eventually succeed her husband.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he wants to see a “stable and successful Zimbabwe” and also appealed to all sides to refrain from violence.
The UK’s acting ambassador to Zimbabwe, Simon Thomas, said: “I can confirm that military remain deployed at strategic locations around Harare this morning.
“As an embassy our prime concern is obviously for the safety and security of British nationals, and our advice to any British nationals who are here in Harare, either living or working or visiting, is to stay at home, stay in your hotel room, wait until things settle down a little bit.”
Mrs May was responding to a question from former Africa minister James Duddridge, who said Britain must support Zimbabwe in changing from the “nasty dictatorship” under Mr Mugabe to a democracy if that is what its people want.
The Conservative MP said it would be inappropriate for the UK to support a coup, adding to the Press Association: “I would hope that the UK has a plan to deal with this type of scenario to flood in extra political support, diplomatic support, but also, crucially, economic support to allow that country to prosper.
“The British government should support the Zimbabwean people to bring the whole thing to a conclusion and chart a way forward.
“It is for the Zimbabwean people to chart a way forward, not Her Majesty’s government.
“But I think they are doing that, they will do that, and we will support them coming out of what has been a rather nasty dictatorship by one man to a slightly more functioning democracy.
“But it may very well be that we need to provide support in the transition to maintain stability.”