Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe deposed from ruling party after Army intervention
The Zanu-PF party reiterated the military’s stand that it had not attempted a coup.
Zimbabwe’s ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front, on Wednesday said President Robert Mugabe and his family were safe after the military took custody of the world’s oldest head of state earlier in the day.
The party said Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was sacked as the vice president last week, will now be its leader after the “bloodless transition”. The Zanu-PF denied that the military had carried out a coup, and said the Army had intervened as the “Constitution had been undermined”.
Zimbabwe has not had a coup. There has been a decision to intervene because our constitution had been undermined, in the interim Comrade E Mnagngawa will be president of ZANU PF as per the constitution of our revolutionary organisation.
— ZANU PF (@zanu_pf) November 15, 2017
“Neither Zimbabwe nor Zanu are owned by Mugabe and his wife,” the party declared, accusing First Lady Grace of taking advantage of her husband. The military has also detained Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo.
Last night the first family was detained and are safe, both for the constitution and the sanity of the nation this was necessary. Neither Zimbabwe nor ZANU are owned by Mugabe and his wife. Today begins a fresh new era and comrade Mnangagwa will help us achieve a better Zimbabwe.
— ZANU PF (@zanu_pf) November 15, 2017
There was no coup, only a bloodless transition which saw corrupt and crooked persons being arrested and an elderly man who had been taken advantage of by his wife being detained. The few bangs that were heard were from crooks who were resisting arrest, but they are now detained
— ZANU PF (@zanu_pf) November 15, 2017
This comes about a day after Army General Constantino Chiwenga warned of military intervention after President Mugabe sacked the vice president amid a disagreement over succession, the BBC reported. The First Lady had emerged the front-runner to take over as the next president.
Mugabe has been in power since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980. His government in Zimbabwe has been accused of several human rights violations. The 93-year-old is also accused of maladministration, which has led to a collapse of the country’s economy and healthcare system, among other administrative failures.