The five-minute story of Zimbabwe’s ‘bloodless transition’

There are two words you’re going to hear a lot today: Zimbabwe, and coup.

According to numerous reports, Zimbabwe is now under the control of its military. President Robert Mugabe and the first family has been “detained”.

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

The latest wave of political upheaval comes after President Mugabe fired vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa earlier this week, who many believed to be his eventual successor.

This was also seen as a move to clear the way for Grace Mugabe — Robert’s influential wife — to take over eventual rule of the country.

Military members and some in ZANU-PF however, didn’t agree with President Mugabe’s decision.

Zimbabwe’s military chief Gen. Constantino Chiwenga spoke out against the decision on Monday, with ZANU-PF quickly responding by accusing him of treason.

The youth wing of ZANU-PF defended Mugabe’s decision.

“Defending the revolution and our leader and president is an ideal we live for and if need be, it is a principle we are prepared to die for,” said Kudzai Chipanga, secretary of ZANU-PF’s youth league.

But the situation soon escalated from a battle of tongues, to a show of force.

On Tuesday, tanks were spotted rolling into Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare.

Rumours of a forthcoming military coup then surfaced.

#Zimbabwe: video footage of armoured vehicles moving on the road towards #Harare. Could this be #MUgabe‘s final day in office? pic.twitter.com/KYkMrMqeIO

— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 14, 2017

On Wednesday morning, ZANU-PF’s official Twitter account issued a statement suggesting that there had not been 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,” it wrote.

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

Reports suggest that the military has now seized Zimbabwe’s state broadcasting infrastructure, and blocked off access to the country’s government offices.

Major-Gen. SB Moyo took to state TV Wednesday morning to break the news.

#Zimbabwe is waking up to a new reality as the Army takes control of the country. What next as order as #RobertMugabe has been put under the army’s ‘care’ Apparently a number of ministers are facing arrest. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/nfSDY1FZZz

— Peter Ndoro (@peterndoro) November 15, 2017

Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly been named as Zimbabwe’s interim president.

#Zimbabwe latest:
– Army takes over state TV but denies coup
– Ruling party @zanu_pf says Mugabe "detained" but "safe"
– Party tweets: "There was no coup, only a bloodless transition"
– Emmerson Mnangagwa made interim president

Live: https://t.co/S1wUMoXWd5

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 15, 2017

An unconfirmed account in the name of Mnangagwa tweeted this around 7am this morning.

Zimbabweans stay calm &remain tuned to national news.
I’m back in the Country &will be quite busy over the next few days. My communication with you will now be via formal broadcasting channels so I’m unlikely to use the twitter handle. Thank you all for the support & solidarity

— ED Mnangagwa (@ED_Mnangagwa) November 15, 2017

Feature image: Al Jazeera English via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0, resized)