Zimbabwe’s military issues warning to Mugabe, threatens to step in

Zimbabwe’s army chief has issued a warning to President Robert Mugabe to end the purge in the country’s ruling Zanu-PF party, threatening to step in.

The warning on Monday came a week after Mugabe fired his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a move widely seen as meant to clear the path for his wife, Grace, to become president.

Mnangagwa, a former defence minister, who was once seen as a possible president has since fled into exile.

Army Chief Constantino Chiwenga, a general, told a news conference attended by 90 senior army officers that the removal of people who were involved in the independence struggle, like Mr. Mnangagwa, would not be tolerated, adding that the security services would stop those “bent on hijacking the revolution.” 

Although he did not mention the president by name, the warning is understood to be directed at the 93-year-old Mr. Mugabe. 

The current purging which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith, said General Chiwenga.

We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in.

Mugabe has been president of the south African country since independence in 1980

He said the “squabbling” between politicians had led to “no meaningful development in the country for the past five years”, the BBC report says. 

The former vice president was also expelled from Zanu PF, a party he served for more than 40 years, most of them at Mr Mugabe’s side.