Army takes over Zimbabwe, says Mugabe and his wife Grace are safe

Zimbabwe's army says it has taken temporary control of the country to ‘target criminals’ but said President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace are safe.

According to reports coming from the South African nations, soldiers on Tuesday night took over the headquarters of the state broadcaster ZBC and blocked access to government offices, but the army says this is not a military take over and said it was securing government offices as they patrol the streets of Harare.

Last night’s action by the military triggered speculation of a coup, while the military’s supporters praised it as a “bloodless correction.”

After seizing state TV, an army spokesman announced it was targeting people close to Mr Mugabe.

According to an army spokesman, President Robert Mugabe, is safe, but as yet, there is no official word from the government or the Mugabe family as to their whereabouts.

Their security is guaranteed,” the army spokesman said.

We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover. We are only targeting criminals around (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice.

The spokesman added “as soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy.

The army spokesman also called on churches to pray for the nation. He urged other security forces to “cooperate for the good of our country,” warning that “any provocation will be met with an appropriate response.” The statement called on troops to return to barracks immediately, with all leave cancelled.

Meanwhile, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma later said he had spoken to Mr Mugabe who had indicated that he "was confined to his home but said that he was fine". 

Mugabe, 93 who leads the ruling Zanu-PF party had been in power since 1980, sacked his vice-president last week.

According to political analysts, the dismissal of Mr Mnangagwa last week had left Mr Mugabe's wife Grace as the president's likely successor.

The army has been praised by the nation’s war veterans for carrying out “a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power.”

The military will return Zimbabwe to “genuine democracy” and make the country a “modern model nation,” said Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the war veterans’ association, told The Associated Press in Johannesburg.

As it stands, Mugabe is still president of Zimbabwe. We hope peace ans stability returns very soon.