Zimbabwe: Army chief accused of 'treasonable conduct'

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

50 minutes ago Africa

Zimbabwe's ruling party has accused the country's army chief of "treasonable conduct" after he warned of a possible military intervention in politics.

General Constantino Chiwenga had challenged President Robert Mugabe after he sacked the vice-president.

Gen Chiwenga said the army was prepared to act to end purges within Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

The party said the general's comments were "calculated to disturb national peace... [and] incite insurrection".

-snip-


Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41991425

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Also: Zimbabwe ruling party accuses army chief of treason as tanks seen near capital (Reuters)

[Ken Burch]

1. This MIGHT bring Mugabe down.

And it would be no great loss if it did.

Might not be any particular gain, either.

[sandensea]

3. That - or his own, very advanced age.

I shudder to think what might happen in that country once Mugabe dies.

The post-Mobutu civil war in Zaire comes to mind. But then, Zimbabwe's more educated and developed - as well as much more compact and with fewer ethnic tensions.

Time will tell.

[Ken Burch]

4. The people of Zimbabwe deserve far better.

Question is, is any possible "alternative" leader going to help them gain anything better?

[sandensea]

5. Absolutely. And that is the question, isn't it.

What next?

[Igel]

7. I think he's Shona.

Like Mugabe.

Thus avoiding that particular problem and tribalizing the issue.

(I hope I'm not wrong.)

[sandensea]

8. Whatever the transition, I hope they can pull it off without a Congo-style civil war.

In Africa, as you know, that usually comes down to the level of intra-ethnic resentment.

My understanding is that there's less of that than in other countries in the region (plus, Zimbabwe's somewhat better off and more educated); I certainly hope that will be enough to hold it all together once Mugabe kicks the can.

[Eugene]

2. Soldiers on Harare streets as ruling party accuses Zimbabwe army chief of treason

Source: Reuters

#WORLD NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2017 / 7:43 AM / UPDATED 9 MINUTES AGO

Soldiers on Harare streets as ruling party accuses Zimbabwe army chief of treason

MacDonald Dzirutwe
5 MIN READ

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe’s ruling party accused the head of the armed forces of treason on Tuesday as troops took up positions around the capital in an escalation of a dispute with 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe over political succession.

Just 24 hours after military chief General Constantino Chiwenga threatened to intervene to end a purge in the ruling party, a Reuters reporter saw six armored personnel carriers on major thoroughfares on the outskirts of the capital.

Aggressive soldiers directing traffic told passing cars to keep moving through the darkness.

“Don’t try anything funny. Just go,” one soldier said on Harare Drive.

The presence of troops, including the movement of at least six armored personnel carriers from a barracks northwest of Harare, sparked rumors of coup against Mugabe, although there was no evidence to suggest Zimbabwe’s leader of the last 37 years had been toppled.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics/soldiers-on-harare-streets-as-ruling-party-accuses-zimbabwe-army-chief-of-treason-idUSKBN1DE1NG

[left-of-center2012]

6. I'm no fan of military coups

But it may be needed in this case.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Zimbabwe crisis: Soldiers 'take over broadcaster ZBC'

Soldiers are reported to have taken over the headquarters of Zimbabwe's national broadcaster, ZBC, amid a growing political crisis.

Explosions have also been reported in the capital, Harare, but the cause is unclear.
...
Mr Mugabe sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, amid a row over succession.

Mr Mnangagwa had previously been seen as an heir to the president, but First Lady Grace Mugabe is now the clear front-runner.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41992351

Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe, a polarising figure, may succeed in the footsteps of her 93-year-old husband Robert as president when he dies or steps down.

Once a quiet figure known for her shopping and her charity work, she now has a high-profile role in the ruling Zanu-PF party as the head of its women's league and she has been instrumental in the ousting of several potential successors to the presidency.

Her main rival, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was accused of disloyalty and sacked in early November 2017. Mrs Mugabe has won key party members' support - including her husband's - for succeeding him to the vice-presidency.
...
His party has nominated him to stand for re-election next year, but he has been on several medical trips to Singapore this year and there are concerns about his health.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30307333