Zimbabwe Army takes over public broadcasting channel; Denies coup, says President Mugabe is safe

NewsBharati    15-Nov-2017
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Harare, November 15: For a long time the African country Zimbabwe was facing political turmoil. The tension escalated after Zimbabwe President sacked his deputy, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week. Just a day after the army commander threatened to “step in” to calm political tensions; soldiers took over Zimbabwe’s state television early Wednesday. The military said it was not "a military takeover of government" and President Robert Mugabe was safe.

In a statement, defense forces of the country said they “are only targeting criminals around” President. The army said those criminals are causing social and economic suffering in the country. Till now it is not clear that if Mugabe will retain his power later. But the military said the situation will back to normalcy as soon as they achieve their goal “to pacify the destabilizing situation, to remedy the country’s suffering.” Even the name of person who is leading the military action that is also not clear.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of Government. What the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation in our country which if not addressed may result in violent conflict” the official statement stated addressing citizens of Zimbabwe and also to people outside the country.

Since 1980 Zimbabwe President Mogabe is ruling the country and this is for the first time citizens are witnessing an open conflict between Mogambe and military. In Tuesday night, several explosions were heard in the capital Harare, as local media reported and various military vehicles were also seen.

The main controversy is surrounding grace Mugabe, the 52 years old wife of President Mugabe. There are various reports regarding her bad behaviors to common people. From 2014 she emerged as the probable political successor of President. Back in 2014, she became head of the ruling party’s women’s league. The main challenge for her being President was former vice president Mnangagwa. Feud between those two leaders were also known to people.

The chairman of the Liberation War Veterans’ Association has praised the action. Chris Mutsvangwa, head of the war veterans’ group has lauded army General Constantino Chiwenga for carrying out “a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power”. But the main question still prevails, what will the army do after this.