Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe Under House Arrest After Coup D’État

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe stands with his wife Grace, as they pose for a photo at State House in Harare, Tuesday, Oct, 28, 2014.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe stands with his wife Grace, as they pose for a photo at State House in Harare, Tuesday, Oct, 28, 2014. AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe stands with his wife Grace, as they pose for a photo at State House in Harare, Tuesday, Oct, 28, 2014.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe stands with his wife Grace, as they pose for a photo at State House in Harare, Tuesday, Oct, 28, 2014. AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe Under House Arrest After Coup D’État

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Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is under house arrest following an army coup d’état. An army spokesman said “We are targeting criminals around [Mugabe] who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country … ”

South African President Jacob Zuma reported that Mugabe assured him during a phone call that he was “fine.” Zuma also called “for calm and restraint”

Mugabe came under pressure when he sacked his vice president, an ally of army commander General Constantino Chiwenga. The move was interpreted as clearing the way for Mugabe’s wife, Grace, to succeed him. 

There were also growing concerns over Mugabe’s state of mind. Two years ago, he read the wrong speech at parliament’s opening session. Instead of reading his intended remarks, Mugabe, now 93, re-read a previous speech.

We’ll get an update from Piers Pigou, project director for Southern Africa at Crisis Group, who’s based in South Africa.