Waking up this morning and going through the news as I always do, I was met with a surprising bit of news that I have been following recently. Zimbabwe is currently in the throws of a Military takeover led by Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo and his followers. This comes as quite a surprise as Robert Mugabe still has strong support in Zimbabwe.
Military Coup
The news coming from Zimbabwe is adamant that they are not experiencing a coup, but a 'peaceful transition'. As odd as it sounds, so far it seems that it was relatively peaceful. These reports may not be accurate as the military has occupied the public broadcasting network so the news should be taken lightly.
Yesterday, 14 November, saw armoured military vehicles moving into Harare following an unprecedented move by the military. The primary motivation claimed by them was to stop the purging of supporters for ousted deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Where is uncle Bob?
Robert Mugabe is currently being held under house arrest after the military barricaded the famous 'Blue House'. Mugabe was not present at the time of the takeover but was later taken into custody. His wife, Grace Mugabe, who is the favourite to continue the Mugabe Legacy, has reportedly fled to Namibia in the chaos.
International response
Calls for peace have been flooding in from around the world as the events unfold but South-Africa has probably been put in the most precarious position. According to African Union laws, no military takeover can be recognised, even with popular support. As the current leader of SADC, South Africa will be looked at to intervene should things get out of hand. This is not a good position to be in as South-Africa is also struggling under political infighting as the ANC electoral conference prepares to meet in December.
My opinion?
Robert Mugabe is a parasite that should have been dealt with long ago. Although I am not a fan of military intervention or violence in general, I do believe this is a good step for Zimbabwe to take if it frees them from an oppressive leader that has led the country to ruin!
