November 15, 2017

Zimbabwe's military leaders have seized control of the impoverished southern African nation, placing veteran leader Robert Mugabe under house arrest and deploying tanks to the streets of the capital, Harare.
The president of neighboring South Africa, Jacob Zuma, said 93-year-old Mugabe -- the world's oldest living leader -- was unable to leave his home. Troops were reportedly stationed at the country's parliament and presidential palace.
In a dramatic televised statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning, an army spokesman denied that a military takeover was underway.
But the situation bore all the hallmarks of a coup: The military was in control of state TV in Harare, there was a significant military presence at the international airport, and Mugabe has not been seen in public.
Key developments:
Military in charge: The military announced on state television station ZBC at 4 a.m. that it was conducting an operation to target "criminals" close to the President who were causing "social and economic suffering."
President's location: The military said Mugabe and his family were "safe." South Africa's Zuma later said Mugabe had been confined to his home, but was feeling "fine."
Situation on streets: The streets of the capital were quiet but lines were seen outside banks. CNN saw army checkpoints at key locations.

Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent military coup


Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent military coup


Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent military coup

What happened?
The intervention came after weeks of political turmoil, in which Mugabe sacked his powerful Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who enjoyed wide support in the military and was tipped to become the next leader. The move fueled speculation Mugabe would try to install his wife, Grace, to succeed him.
The first signs that a military intervention was underway came Tuesday afternoon as tanks were seen near the capital.
The situation escalated with the early morning announcement, when Maj. Gen. S.B. Moyo addressed the country on state TV, vehemently denying the operation was a coup.
"To both our people and the world beyond our borders, we wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government," he said.
"As soon as we accomplish our mission we expect situation to return to normalcy."

Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent military coup

Moyo told members of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces that all leave was canceled and soldiers were expected to return to their barracks immediately. He urged Zimbabwe's other security services to cooperate for "the good of our country."
Moyo said that the security of Mugabe and his family was "guaranteed" and said the president was safe, but gave no information of his whereabouts.
South African president Jacob Zuma later said he had spoken with Mugabe by phone and that the veteran politician was confined to his home but feeling "fine."
There were reports Wednesday that officials were being arrested.
Military secures key sites
CNN journalists in Harare saw soldiers securing the Robert Mugabe International Airport and checking vehicles and IDs. The military has set up several checkpoints around the capital, and witnesses said they saw soldiers at the presidential palace and parliament.
So far the atmosphere in the capital has been peaceful.

Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent military coup

A resident, who wished not to be named for security reasons, described the city as "very quiet," though shops were open and buses and taxis appeared to be running normally.
"Many people have just stayed home," she said.
The resident added that there was a sense of "excitement in the air" and that social media was humming over what might be happening.
But there also appeared to be some nervousness. Photographs showed long lines at ATMs and at banks.
Political reaction
President Zuma of South Africa called on Zimbabwe's Defense Forces to show restraint, adding that he hoped they "will not move and do more damage."
"I am hoping that the situation is going to be controlled so peace and stability comes back to Zimbabwe."
But in Zimbabwe, political figures once loyal to Mugabe are beginning to turn away from him.

Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent military coup

In a statement praising the military, Chris Mutsvanga, who heads the influential Zimbabwe War Veterans' Association, called the move a "bloodless coup."
"We salute the patriotic and gallant forces of the Zimbabwe for once again coming to the decisive rescue of the nation," the statement said.
"The populace has long suffered under a self-saving dictatorship that had become an oligarch with dynastic delusions."
Mutsvanga is an ally of the deposed vice president, but his veterans' group has historically been loyal to Mugabe, who led a violent campaign against British colonial rule and was elected Prime Minister after independence was granted in 1980 and then President seven years later.

Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent military coup

The veterans' group has, however, been fiercely critical of Grace Mugabe, who is 52 and does not have any connection to Zimbabwe's independence campaign. Her extravagant shopping trips and crude political maneuvering have made her a polarizing figure.
Grace Mugabe's survival has been tied to that of her husband, who has appeared increasingly inclined to anoint her as his successor. Her whereabouts were unclear on Wednesday
Decades under Mugabe
Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist. After winning power in 1980, he moved swiftly to extinguish political opposition, ordering a violent crackdown that led to a string of massacres in opposition strongholds. The country's Fifth Brigade is believed to have killed up to 20,000 people, mostly supporters of Mugabe's main political rival.
But his hardline policies pushed the country into poverty: Zimbabwe's flourishing economy began to disintegrate after a program of land seizures from white farmers, as agricultural output plummeted and inflation soared.
Accused of rigging elections and quashing any sign of political opposition, Mugabe remains the only leader many in the country have ever known. He once infamously claimed that "only God" could remove him from office.
He faced criticism for throwing a lavish birthday party last year in a region hit by food shortages and drought. But until this week had succeeded in holding off all challenges to his leadership.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described him as a power-hungry despot who would not be missed.
"This House will remember the brutal litany of his 37 years in office," he said in the House of Commons in London.
"The elections he rigged and stole, the murder and torture of his opponents, the illegal seizure of land, leading to the worst hyper-inflation in recorded history measured in the billions of percentage points, and forcing the abolition of the Zimbabwean dollar."
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Olivia Munn Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Double Mastectomy Procedure | E! News
March 13, 2024
kUaEV1Kd3S0
Travis Kelce Shares Details From His Trip to Singapore With Taylor Swift | E! News
March 13, 2024
3YXi-Dgf4eg
Kate Middleton VIRAL Photo: Agency Addresses Photoshop Claims | E! News
March 13, 2024
S4VkO0TpkCY
Da'Vine Joy Randolph Plays 'Smash or Pass' With Iconic Moments From Her Career
March 13, 2024
vkPdJEF2BX4
Jean Smart Wears a Hotel Bathrobe to Present an Award to Hannah Einbinder l Power of Comedy SxSW
March 12, 2024
Bw7uVEYQev4
Lenny Kravitz Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 12, 2024
MlWq8BcnwhE
Dak Prescott Extortion Plot & Steph Curry for President? | TMZ Sports Full Ep - 3/12/24
March 13, 2024
jHFsrjs7OFY
A Japanese space rocket blew up after takeoff Tuesday, turning the sky into a fireball of smoke.
March 13, 2024
YkfJ3Qg8B7c
#KimKardashian and #BiancaCensori hung out at #KanyeWest's listening party Tuesday night!
March 13, 2024
EfwLLq6bx9k
‘Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond denies using Ozempic to lose 60 pounds
March 13, 2024
Omfjk1AlZ3A
Chrissy Teigen reveals her ‘boob lift scars’ in daring dress at Jay-Z & Beyoncé’s Oscars 2024 party
March 13, 2024
VxZ2qXAlpmU
Zoë Kravitz pokes fun at dad Lenny Kravitz's style during Hollywood Walk of Fame speech
March 13, 2024
j3-lcFu_1sQ
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
SC Freiburg - Bayer Leverkusen
17
Mar
USA: Major League Soccer
Atlanta United - Orlando City
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
West Ham United - Aston Villa
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Rayo Vallecano - Real Betis
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Championship
Leeds - Millwall
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Las Palmas - Almeria
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Villarreal - Valencia
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Sevilla - Celta Vigo
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
09
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Werder Bremen - Borussia Dortmund
09
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Arsenal - Brentford
09
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Bologna - Inter Milan
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.