Coup in Zimbabwe: Mugabe Confined at His Home

[Joe Kihara Munugu]

Zimbabwe Coup: Mugabe Confined at Home

Zimbabwe Military has seized power and placed President Robert Mugabe under house arrest in Harare. Mugabe's detention comes as the vice-president he fired last week returned to the country this morning. Mugable fired Emmerson Mnangagwa eight days ago, accusing him of being disrolyal to the country. Mnangagwa fled to South Africa and flew back into Zimbabwe's Manyame airbase today. Speculation is rife that the military intends to install Mnangagwa as the head of government and Mugabe as a figurehead.

President Jacob Zuma  of South Africa has revealed that he has been in contact with President Mugabe and will send South Africa's ministers of both state security and defence to meet with Mugabe.  Zuma, who is also the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said South Africa is also in contact with the Zimbabwean Defence Force (ZDF). ZDF has has issued a public statement saying that Mugabe is “safe” after reports emerged that soldiers had left their barracks, taken control of the Zimbabwean national broadcaster, and detained Cabinet ministers.
President Zuma's office released a statement which said, “President Zuma spoke to President Robert Mugabe earlier today who indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine.”