President Jacob Zuma of South
Africa spoke to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday, and he confirmed that although he was confined to his home he is fine.
The South African presidency said
in a statement that Zuma, in his capacity as chair of the Southern African
Development Community, was sending special envoys to Zimbabwe to meet with
Mugabe and the Zimbabwean Defence Force, which has seized power in Harare.
Zimbabwean amy cordoned off the
Presidential seat of power and Parliament Building in the capital while
helicopters circled the city centre, after the military announced it had taken
over control of all government institutions.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police was
not visible in the streets as soldiers controlled traffic movement while
unconfirmed reports say a number of cabinet ministers and some top ruling
Zanu-PF officials have been arrested.
In some instances the soldiers
were asking for identification from members of the public, although the
situation remained peaceful and calm with people going about their daily chores
as if nothing dramatic had happened.
The UN has issued a security
advisory instructing its personnel to work from home while some schools were
closed and some students failed to sit for their final examinations, including
at the University of Zimbabwe.
Personnel from the President’s
Department have reportedly been removed from the departures desk at the
recently renamed Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and replaced by
soldiers.
Chief of staff (quarter-master)
in the Zimbabwe National Army Sibusiso Moyo appeared on state television early
Wednesday morning.
Moyo said that the position taken
by the military since the statement made by Zimbabwe Defense Forces commander
Constantino Chiwenga Monday had reached “another level.”
“Firstly we wish want to assure
the nation that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and
Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces and his family are safe and
sound and their security is guaranteed.
“We are only targeting criminals
around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic
suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice,” he said.
He did not say where President
Mugabe was.
Mugabe fired his deputy Emmerson
Mnangagwa on allegations of seeking to usurp power, in a development that had
created tension in the country.
Moyo assured Zimbabweans at home,
abroad and the international community that this was not a military takeover
and that the situation would soon return to normalcy.
“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.
“What the Zimbabwe Defense Forces
is doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation
in our country which if not addressed may result in a violent conflict,” he
said.
Leave has been cancelled to all
military personnel who were instructed to return to their barracks immediately.
Moyo urged the people to minimise
movement but said those going to work and with essential businesses should
carry on. He urged other security sectors to cooperate with the military.
“Let it be clear that we intend to
address the human security threat in our country and any provocation shall be
met with an appropriate response,” he warned.
State television was playing
liberation war songs all early morning, indicating that the military was in
charge of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Government-controlled newspaper
The Herald, which on Tuesday did not run Chiwenga’s statement, was said to be
preparing a special edition to be published later on Wednesday.
Moyo said an impending purge of
civil servants by some top members of government would be stopped and the
judiciary allowed to exercise its role without undue interference.
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