Source: Social media reacts to Zim army chief’s coup threat | News24 November 14, 2017
Cape Town – Zimbabweans have taken to social media to air their views following threats by the country’s army chief to stage a coup if President Robert Mugabe doesn’t rein in his warring Zanu-PF lieutenants.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Harare, Defence Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga demanded a “stop” to the purges in the ruling Zanu-PF following the sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chiwenga criticised the instability in the revolutionary party.
The press briefing was attended by at least 90 senior army officers at the army headquarters in Harare.
Chiwenga said that “instability” in the ruling party had caused “distress, trepidation and despondence”.
He accused the party of expelling senior officials who participated in the 1970s war against white-minority ruled Rhodesia, saying “counter revolutionaries” were plotting to destroy the party.
“The current purging and cleansing process in Zanu-PF which so far is targeting mostly members associated with our liberation history is a serious cause for concern for us in the defense forces,” said Chiwenga.
“We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in. The current purging of which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith.”
General Chiwenga’s hard-hitting statement against Zanu P F politicians is very significant. Zimbabwe could be on the cusp of something epoch-defining.
COMMENTS
The weakest link is the military why are they going to the media instead of acting, wake up guys remove the regime and put a transitional government to level the ground for free and fair elections, arrest all the government ministers for looting country resources, please act and stop mumbling
And they did!!
I am writing this on 24th Nov 2017.
I am an Indian living in Harare and seen all the action in person for the past few days.
To my knowledge, I have never known or heared, any time in the past or anywhere in the world, a military take over of a government is so peaceful. There was no violence at all.
I have not seen a police man on the roads from the day the military took power.
In fact people are law abiding in the absence of harressment of police road blocks, and never seen a motorist violating traffic rules. All are happy in the absence of intimidating police men equipped with spikes to through in front of the vehicles for nothing.
Even the few military check post which are manned by fully armed military men are welcomed by citizens. The military personnel who stops us to check vehicles are so courteous and polite.