Military on streets near Zimbabwe capital as treason claims fly

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Armored vehicles were seen on the streets near the Zimbabwean capital Harare, as questions mounted Wednesday as to whether President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, still has a firm grip on power.

Tensions between the 93-year-old leader and the military that has been a key buttress to his reign have intensified, and his ZANU-PF party accused army chief General Constantino Chiwenga on Tuesday of "treasonable conduct" for challenging Mugabe over the sacking of the vice president.

The public dispute has presented a major test for Mugabe.

President Robert Mugabe talks to General Constantino Chiwenga in Harare, Zimbabewe, July 4, 2008. / Reuters Photo

Chiwenga had demanded that Mugabe stop purges of senior party figures, including vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was dismissed last week.

ZANU-PF said Chiwenga's stance was "clearly calculated to disturb national peace... and suggests treasonable conduct on his part as this was meant to incite insurrection."

Before being ousted, Mnangagwa had clashed repeatedly with Mugabe's wife Grace, 52, who is seen as vying with Mnangagwa to be the next president.

As the situation deteriorated on the ground, the US embassy in Harare warned its citizens in the country to "shelter in place" due to "ongoing political uncertainty."

Zimbabwe’s agricultural output declined after many white farmers left in the 2000s. Here a tractor carries workers in the farming area of Chinhoyi in July 2017. /Reuters Photo

The armored vehicles spotted outside Harare alarmed many residents as Chiwenga had warned of possible military intervention.

The army's spokesman was not available to comment. "I saw a long convoy of military vehicles," a female fruit seller told AFP, while other witnesses took to social media to confirm the reports.

Mugabe under pressure

Mugabe is the world's oldest head of state, but his frail health has fueled a bitter succession battle as potential replacements jockey for position. Some of the army top brass are seen as strongly opposed to Grace Mugabe's apparent emergence as the likely next president.

President Robert Mugabe's wife Grace is a political force in her own right. She addresses a rally of the ruling ZANU-PF party in Chinhoyi, July 29, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"We very rarely see tanks on the roads," Derek Matyszak, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said.

"Chiwenga threw down the gauntlet to Mugabe... it would make sense for Chiwenga to organize some military maneuvers to up the ante. It's clear we are entering new territory here."

In speeches this year, Mugabe has often slurred his words, mumbled and paused for long periods.

His lengthy rule has been marked by brutal repression of dissent, mass emigration, vote-rigging and economic collapse since land reforms in 2000.

The main opposition MDC party called for civilian rule to be protected.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the main political opponent of President Robert Mugabe, addressing a crowd during the 2013 election campaign. /Reuters Photo

"No one wants to see a coup... If the army takes over that will be undesirable. It will bring democracy to a halt," shadow defense minister Gift Chimanikire, told AFP.

ZANU-PF's influential youth league, which supports Grace Mugabe as the next president, said in a statement that army chief Chiwenga must not be allowed to choose Zimbabwe's leaders.

Speculation has been rife in Harare that Mugabe could seek to remove Chiwenga, who is seen as an ally of ousted Mnangagwa.

'Ominous moment'?

The crisis marks an "ominous moment in the ongoing race to succeed" Mugabe, said political analyst Alex Magaisa in an online article.

"(Mugabe) has previously warned the military to stay away from ZANU-PF's succession race. His authority over the military has never been tested in this way."

Mnangagwa, 75, was widely viewed as Mugabe's most loyal lieutenant, having worked alongside him for decades.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, seen here in December 2014, flanked by his wife, Grace, and Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice president. Both are potential successors as president. /Reuters Photo

He fled the country and is thought to be in South Africa after issuing a searing five-page condemnation of Grace's ambition and Mugabe's leadership.

Earlier this year, the country was gripped by a bizarre spat between Grace and Mnangagwa that included an alleged ice-cream poisoning incident that laid bare the pair's rivalry.

Mnangagwa took over as vice president from Joice Mujuru who was axed in 2014 after Grace Mugabe launched a campaign accusing her of plotting to topple the president.

Grace Mugabe – 41 years younger than her husband – has become increasingly active in public life in what many say is a process to help her eventually take the top job.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters