Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare, Zimbabwe,15 November 2017. After seizing state TV, the s ol...
"We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," he said. "As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."
Zimbabwean military move in to enforce a martial law
The military has national prestige on its shoulder of defending and protecting its people regardless of their political affiliations, colours, races or social status:
Martial Law: Defined as; the imposition of military forces to designated areas or territory in order to regain, maintain, and secure when the civilian (local) government authorities are unable to do so and, in some cases, to enforce government's rules.
Under "Martial Law" an army commander has supreme power to impose or freeze completely all political structures in the country even momentarily suspend the functionality of the national constitution for the sake of normalizing the ongoing political turmoils and save more people's lives. The "Sword of the Nations" which is only the military could then temporary take control over normal civilian functions include the government itself. As per the constitution, the president like Bob Mugabe has official mandatory to declare the state of emergency and allow martial law being enforced, however, if the country political structure is disbanded due to the nature of political calamity.
The president can adjudicate the state office and his power will be redeemed only to a ceremonial role, especially in a response to a state of emergency when the country's civilian rule is in total disarray like the situation currently we observing now in the land of "Mwenemutapa Matope" (Great Zimbabwe).
The Zimbabwean Constitution in Chapter 11:04, permits the State of Emergency to be declared and Martial law impose over the public. Understand that the martial law is "Habeas Corpus" which is an independent law on its own. Subjected that it must not overstay in handling civilian affairs. The military should relinquish the power immediately to the civilian administrations thereof after their mission accomplished. The marshal law should only be considered as a "quick punch" in restoring the law and order in the country.
It is in this contrast that many people in civilian domains oftentimes misunderstand the analogy of this nature to jot out the difference between military overflowing and marshal law, people could easily conclude any military action as "coup d'état", of course, the military also misused the decree provided by the martial law when military officers executing marshal law and capitulate the opportunity to stay on political power, which is wrong! The martial law is very hush and creates brutal rules that result in curfews if deem necessary and suspend all civil law including civil rights.
Law And Order Enforcement: In some areas it reportedly that artillery, air force have re-activated and gun sounds could be heard in northern parts of the capital Harare early on Wednesday. A statement from media read out by a general on-air clarifying the alleged military coup. However, there was no immediate word from the president himself, but we know he is safe. South African President Jacob Zuma said he hoped events in Zimbabwe would not lead to "unconstitutional changes of government". China, Zimbabwe's biggest trading partner, says it is closely watching the situation and hopes that the relevant parties can properly handle their internal affairs.
Other key points of the statement include:
- Citizens should remain calm and limit unnecessary movement
- The military assures the Zimbabwean judiciary that its independence is guaranteed
- Security services should "co-operate for the good of our country" and any provocation would "be met with an appropriate response"
- All leave for the defence forces is cancelled and personnel should return to barracks immediately
It is not clear who is leading the military action. Army chief Gen Constantino Chiwenga, who visited China last week, said on Monday the army was prepared to act to end purges within Zanu-PF. This is all about the leadership succession, as Mr Mugabe's powers finally falter. The people who fought in the 1970s guerrilla war against white minority rule still dominate Zimbabwe's government and especially its security forces, and they are worried about losing that power and the wealth it generates. In his statement on Monday, Gen Chiwenga warned against the "purging, which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background".
The military presence now seems everywhere, troops are storming into streets to cull down the illegal purge following to the sacking of Mr Mugabe's once loyal deputy, Mr Mnangagwa, a former defence minister, spy chief and war veteran of national liberation.
He and Grace Mugabe, who is four decades younger than her husband, had been seen as the main candidates to succeed Mr Mugabe. Mrs Mugabe's supporters are known as Generation 40 or G40 - a name which signals a changing of the guard in Zimbabwe, at least partially, 37 years after independence. The rivalry between Mrs Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa split Zanu-PF. Gen Chiwenga is a close ally of Mr Mnangagwa and both are veterans of the 1970s war which ended white minority rule. The leader of the war veterans, Chris Mutsvangwa, welcomed the military move, telling Reuters: "This is a correction of a state that was careening off the cliff.
So this military action is the old guard reasserting its authority. Mr Mugabe was the political leader of the guerrilla war so the army always professed loyalty to him until he explicitly came out in favour of his wife. Some staff at ZBC were manhandled when the soldiers moved in, sources said.
Detainment
A government source revealed that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo had been detained. He is a leading member of a faction of Zanu-PF led by Grace Mugabe. A number of Zimbabwean cabinet ministers have been arrested after the military made a show of force in the capital Harare‚ according to sources. Sources said those arrested included higher education minister Jonathan Moyo‚ local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and other several members.
Is this a military coup?
Nope! Alex Magaisa, the former adviser to Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told the media: "They have decided not to call it a coup because they know that a coup does not sell, it will be condemned."But as far as authority is concerned it seems very clear that President Mugabe is now just a president in name and authority is now residing in the military." Zanu-PF had accused Gen Chiwenga of "treasonable conduct" after he issued his warning that the army might intervene. Mr Mnangagwa had been seen as a potential heir to the president before he was sacked last week, leaving First Lady Grace Mugabe as the clear front-runner.
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