Anti-Corruption Commission spokeswoman Phyllis Chikundura says Levi Nyagura of the University of Zimbabwe was arrested Friday. He appears in court Saturday on abuse of office charges.

Mugabe, whose husband resigned in November under pressure from the military, received a doctorate in 2014 amid allegations she did not study for it. Former president Robert Mugabe was university chancellor.

Chikundura says the university should provide the “paper trail” showing Grace Mugabe’s registration and academic progression.

Sociology department lecturers say they have no records of Mugabe’s work.

Fears that the unpopular Mugabe was positioning herself to succeed her 93-year-old husband as president led the military to step in last year.

–

Source: Associated Press

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The opposition National People’s Party said Mrs Mujuru and several others were assaulted with rocks while campaigning in a suburb of the capital, Harare.

At least eight people are injured, a party spokesman told the BBC, but Mrs Mujuru’s injuries are not serious.

Her party alleges the attack was politically motivated, and carried out by members of the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Zimbabwe has undergone rapid political change in the past year, with the departure of former president Robert Mugabe in November, after 37 years in power.

Its new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has promised that elections scheduled for later this year will be fair and free from violence.

Mrs Mujuru was once President Mugabe’s heir apparent, serving as vice-president for a decade before she was ousted in 2014, in a move led by Mr Mugabe’s wife Grace.

Mrs Mugabe claimed the vice-president was “corrupt, an extortionist, incompetent, a gossiper, a liar and ungrateful”. Mrs Mujuru was expelled from Zanu-PF, and became president of the National People’s Party.

Her “rainbow coalition” urged the public to vote against the Mugabes’ continued reign.

It was because of fears that Grace Mugabe was positioning herself to succeed her 93-year-old husband that led to his ultimate fall from power.

Mrs Mujuru is now challenging Zanu-PF for the presidency.

Mr Mnangagwa, meanwhile, is also a former vice-president of Robert Mugabe, having succeeded Mrs Mujuru in the role.

He is serving the remainder of Mr Mugabe’s term ahead of the scheduled mid-year elections.

–

Source: BBC

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But I did fall sick. And as I lay home sniffling and shivering with cold and my body racking with cough, I knew if the illness didn’t kill me, boredom would. And just as I was giving up, a real live soap opera leapt up before me. What am I hearing? Zimbabwe? Army? Robert and Grace under house arrest? I crawled out of bed and made myself a pot of hot water. This was going to be interesting.

I wondered what the army was up to with that innocuous statement from the general. The following day, I wondered no more. The army took over the media house and made an announcement. Then we heard Robert and Grace Mugabe were under house arrest. Really! What was happening?

The drama continued. Grace had fled the country. Nope, she was around. The army was camped in Mugabe’s residence. Oh, now the good people of Zimbabwe want to hold a rally? The army says “no problem,” and reassured us all that an announcement was forthcoming. Oh boy, I needed popcorn!

I waited with the Zimbabweans and the rest of Africa all night Saturday. I finally turned in when my chills set in. Another cup of lemon tea and I climbed into bed with dreams of a Mugabe-free Zimbabwe and woke up the next morning to the non-resignation. What??? I needed more popcorn as I prepared to snuggle up on my couch and listen in on all the analyses from the news stations. I mean, what happened?

It’s the beginning of the week and I finally feel better, so off to the office I went. And throughout my busy few days, not a single thought about Zimbabwe. But as Tuesday ended, my thoughts wandered and I began reflecting on the events that had unfolded. Getting home, I listened to Mugabe’s address to the nation several times and many thoughts filled my mind.

Before this “drama” started, many suggested that due to Robert Mugabe’s age, his wife Grace was running state affairs. Others suggested she was manipulating him to her advantage. During his address to the nation, the Mugabe I saw left one thing crystal clear: no one manipulates Robert Mugabe. He spoke with the clarity of someone very much in control. So he sleeps at official meetings? I’d be tired too, having been on earth for 93 years, still working as hard as I did in my younger days, with no end in sight.

And I know I won’t be popular for saying this but Africa has come too far not to use constitutionally mandated processes for solving issues. On Tuesday, my thoughts on the matter were clear: Robert Mugabe should step down when he must — through his resignation, or through approved removal proceedings. In the case of Zimbabwe, the two immediate options were: impeachment, and/or the ratification of his removal during the Zanu-PF congress in December. While the saga continued, I was proud to see Zimbabwe pursing these legal options. I am also very proud of the way the army handled the situation. They intervened, made their point, and withdrew, leaving the next steps in the hands of the people of Zimbabwe.

By Tuesday evening, Mugabe chose to resign.

Today, there clearly is no sign of my illness. It’s gone, just like the old Africa, where brute force was our modus operandi. Today, I feel well, I am better, and I am stronger. And the due process followed in Zimbabwe should make us feel better about the stronger Africa that is emerging from this process. Okay, I am being a tad melodramatic here, but you get my point.

A new Africa is finally rising, where democracy deepens with every challenge. Ghana led the way with the landmark 2012 presidential election petition. Today, Zimbabwe has led the way by using dialogue to iron out differences between a Commander in Chief and the military. They have led the way in an army intervention without any bloodshed. No matter what we hoped the outcome would be, we must acknowledge that this is the turning point for a new, matured Africa of which we can all be proud. An Africa that dialogues, believes in the Constitution, trusts the due process, uses the system and the legal process to effect change. Today, Zimbabwe and Africa won.

Part of Mugabe’s weekend address to the nation echoed this New Africa: “…if there is any one observation we have made and drawn from events of the last week,” he read steadily, “it is the unshakable pedestal upon which rests our state of peace and law and order.” This peace, he intimated, was drawn from “our well-cherished constitutional order.”

African countries now have a “well-cherished constitutional order” upon which we all should rely to resolve issues. That should be the unshakable pedestal upon which peace in our beloved Africa rests. The barrel of the gun should be a thing of the past.

I like Shakespeare titles. So yes, the Taming of Robert Mugabe is a pun on the Taming of the Shrew. But really, in this drama, irrespective of the long-term outcome, only one Shakespeare title will be appropriate:

All’s well that ends well.

But then again, this is the beginning of a New Africa.

–

By Dr. G. Koryoe Anim-Wright, President of the African University College of Communications

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The surprise announcement came as lawmakers debated an impeachment motion against the 93-year-old leader in a joint sitting of parliament.

Lawmakers roared in jubilation and people have begun celebrating in the streets.

Mr. Mugabe had previously refused to resign despite last week’s military takeover and days of protests.

REUTERS: Celebrations quickly broke out in Harare

He has been in power since independence in 1980. Mr Mugabe has won elections, but over the past 15 years these have been marred by violence against political opponents.

He has presided over a deepening economic crisis in Zimbabwe, where people are on average 15% poorer now than they were in 1980.

What triggered the moves to oust him was his dismissal of Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice-president two weeks ago.

That decision was seen by many as clearing the way for Mr Mugabe’s wife, Grace, to succeed her husband as leader. It riled the military leadership, who stepped in and put Mr Mugabe under house arrest.

–

Source: BBC

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In a live TV address, Mr Mugabe said he would preside over the ruling party’s congress in December.

The Zanu-PF earlier sacked him as party leader, and gave him less than 24 hours to resign as president or be impeached.

His grip on power has weakened since the military intervened last week in a row over who should succeed him.

A crisis was triggered after Mr Mugabe sacked his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, two weeks ago, angering the army who saw it as an attempt to move his wife, Grace, into the position of his successor.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Mnangagwa was named as Zanu-PF’s new leader and candidate for the 2018 general elections.

At the same party meeting, Mr Mugabe’s 52-year-old wife, Grace, was expelled from the party, alongside a number of other senior officials.

It is not entirely clear how Robert Mugabe can preside over Zanu-PF’s congress next month, following his dismissal as party leader.

–

Source: BBC

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BBC correspondents say protesters in the capital, Harare, are hugging and cheering soldiers in the crowd.

One demonstrator told the BBC the day was “about a new beginning”.

The rally is supported by the army and members of the ruling Zanu-PF party.

War veterans – who until last year were loyal to the president – are also saying Mr Mugabe should quit. The mix of people at the rally is unprecedented, correspondents say.

Protesters have started to converge on State House but the army has moved them away. Some people staged a sit-down protest in front of a line of troops, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has addressed the crowd, to cheers.

The BBC’s Andrew Harding in Harare says this is a watershed moment and there can be no return to power for Mr Mugabe.

One man arriving at the rally said: “As Zimbabweans, we are saying to our army – thank you very much for the peaceful intervention.

“And it’s time for the masses of Zimbabwe to say: Mugabe must go and must go, like, yesterday. We can’t wait to see his back. For us, it’s about the end of authoritarian rule and we are going to take our Zimbabwe back.”

The representative of Zanu-PF in London, Nick Mangwana, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the party would feed protesters at a rally outside Mr Mugabe’s home, and would “not be leaving until they have a letter of resignation”.

“This could be over in 20 minutes,” he said. “People arrive, he resigns, people go away, it’s over.”

Mr Mugabe, 93, had been under house arrest since the army takeover on Wednesday, but on Friday he made his first public appearance. He spoke only to open the graduation at a university of which he is chancellor.

His wife, Grace, was not present. It had been thought she had left the country but it emerged on Thursday that she was at home with Mr Mugabe.

The message for the Mugabes was clear

The military made its move after a power struggle over the successor for Mr Mugabe.

He sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, apparently to pave the way for Grace Mugabe, who is four decades younger than him, to take over the presidency.

The military said it was “engaging” with Mr Mugabe and would advise the public on the outcome of talks “as soon as possible”.

Mr Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since it gained independence from Britain in 1980.

–

Source: BBC

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President Robert Mugabe is said to be confined to his home in Harare but unconfirmed reports says his wife Grace, who was bidding to succeed him as president, has fled to Namibia.

The military’s action followed the sacking of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a fierce rival of Mrs Mugabe.

His whereabouts are also unclear.

President Mugabe, 93, has been in control of Zimbabwe since it gained independence from Britain in 1980.

But the power struggle over who might succeed him, between Mrs Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa, has split the ruling Zanu-PF party in recent months.

Evidence that Mrs Mugabe’s circle was being pressured by the military came on Wednesday when one of her key allies made a public apology for criticising the head of the army a day earlier.

Regional bloc the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is due to hold emergency talks in Botswana on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Tendai Biti told the BBC he wanted to see a transitional authority in place.

“It is urgent that we go back to democracy. It is urgent that we go back to legitimacy but we need a transitional period and I think, I hope, that dialogue can now be opened between the army and Zimbabweans, [that] dialogue can be opened between the army and regional bodies such as the SADC and, indeed, the African Union,” he said.

There have been no reports of unrest in Zimbabwe. Correspondents say many people have accepted that President Mugabe is being eased from office. Streets in Harare are said to be quieter than usual but people are going about their business.

On Wednesday, troops and armoured vehicles encircled parliament and other key buildings.

Hours earlier, soldiers took over the headquarters of national broadcaster ZBC and issued a statement saying that the military was targeting “criminals” around President Mugabe.

On national TV, Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo denied there had been a coup, saying: “This is not a military takeover of government.”

He said Mr Mugabe and his family were “safe and sound and their security is guaranteed”.

“As soon as we have accomplished our mission we expect that the situation will return to normalcy,” he added.

But despite the reassurances, key regional bloc the African Union (AU) said the takeover of power and the detention of President Mugabe “seemed like a coup”.

South African President Jacob Zuma has reportedly dispatched senior ministers to Zimbabwe to meet President Mugabe and military leaders.

Mr Mnangagwa was removed from the vice presidency earlier this month following a call for his dismissal from Mrs Mugabe.

Tensions were raised further on Monday when army chief Gen Constantino Chiwenga said the army was prepared to act to end purges within Zanu-PF.

Gen Chiwenga is a close ally of Mr Mnangagwa and both are veterans of the 1970s war which ended white minority rule.

A strong supporter of Mrs Mugabe, Zanu-PF youth wing leader, Kudzai Chipanga, responded by saying the military should “stay in the barracks”.

But following the military intervention he issued an apology to Gen Chiwenga and other top military officials, reportedly saying “we are still young and make mistakes”.

–

Source: BBC

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However, it said this was not “a military takeover of government” and President Robert Mugabe was safe.

Heavy gunfire and artillery were heard in northern suburbs of the capital, Harare, early on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe’s envoy to South Africa, Isaac Moyo, earlier dismissed talk of a coup, saying the government was “intact”.

The statement read out by Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo came hours after soldiers overran the headquarters of ZBC. He said: “We wish to assure the nation that his excellency the president… and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed.”

The statement added: “We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes… that are causing social and economic suffering in the country. As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy.”

The statement did not name those targeted but a government source quoted by Reuters said Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo was among those detained.

It is not clear who is leading the military action.

Other key points of the statement included:

• 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

The UK Foreign Office advised Britons “currently in Harare to remain safely at home or in their accommodation until the situation becomes clearer”.

The US embassy in Harare tweeted that it would be closed on Wednesday “due to ongoing uncertainty”.

It also advised US citizens in Zimbabwe to “shelter in place” until further notice.

Alex Magaisa, former adviser to Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told the BBC he believes the military’s claim that they haven’t carried out a coup is untrue.

“They have decided not to call it a coup because they know that a coup does not sell, it will be condemned,” he said.

“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.”

The latest events came hours after Zimbabwe’s ruling party accused the country’s army chief of “treasonable conduct” after he warned of possible military intervention.

General Constantino Chiwenga had challenged 93-year-old President Mugabe after he sacked the vice-president.

Gen Chiwenga said the army was prepared to act to end purges within Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party.

Tensions were raised further on Tuesday when armoured vehicles were seen taking up positions on roads outside Harare, although their purpose was unclear.

Some staff at ZBC were manhandled when soldiers took over their offices in Harare late on Tuesday evening, sources told Reuters.

Workers were told that they “should not worry”, a source added, and that soldiers were only there to protect the site.

The BBC’s Shingai Nyoka, in Harare, said the sounds of heavy gunfire and artillery had been heard in northern suburbs where a number of government officials, including the president, live.

Gunfire was heard near Mr Mugabe’s residence in the suburb of Borrowdale early on Wednesday, a witness told AFP news agency.

Mr Mugabe sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, amid a row over succession.

Mr Mnangagwa had previously been seen as an heir to the president, but First Lady Grace Mugabe is now the clear front-runner.

The rivalry between Mrs Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa has split Zanu-PF.

Last month, Mrs Mugabe warned of a possible coup plot, saying allies of Mr Mnangagwa were threatening the lives of those who didn’t support him.

The Zanu-PF party said Gen Chiwenga’s comments were “calculated to disturb national peace… [and] incite insurrection”.

The party said it would never succumb to military threats, and that it “reaffirms the primacy of politics over the gun”.

The leader of Zanu-PF’s youth wing, Kudzai Chipanga, said the general did not have the full support of the entire military.

“It is our country and future at stake and we will not let any individual military man interfere with the leader of the party and legitimately voted president of this country,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

The youth wing is a strong supporter of Grace Mugabe.

Gen Chiwenga’s warning of possible military intervention came on Monday at a news conference at army headquarters where he was surrounded by senior army officers.

He said the “purging” within Zanu-PF was “clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background”, referring to the country’s struggle for freedom from white minority rule.

“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,” he said.

Mr Mnangagwa is one such veteran of the 1970s war which ended white minority rule.

–

Source: BBC

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The rare intervention comes just a week after President Robert Mugabe sacked his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa.

General Constantino Chiwenga, who appeared at a news conference with another 90 senior army officers, did not refer to anyone by name.

Mr Mnangagwa, once seen as a successor to Mr Mugabe, has fled into exile.

Mr Mugabe’s wife Grace, who is now the favourite to succeed her husband, referred to Mr Mnangagwa as a snake which “must be hit on the head”.

Mr Mnangagwa, nicknamed the “crocodile” because of his perceived shrewdness, has rebuked Mr Mugabe, saying Zanu-PF is “not personal property for you and your wife to do as you please”.

Speaking at the army’s headquarters, General Chiwenga said the removal of people who were involved in the independence struggle, like Mr Mnangagwa, would not be tolerated.

“The current purging, which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background, must stop forthwith,” he told those gathered for the news conference.

“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.”

Mr Mnangagwa previously served as defence and state security minister.

Mrs Mugabe, meanwhile, has the support of the younger “Generation 40” or “G40” group of Zimbabwe politicians.

General Chiwenga also hit out at the “squabbling” between politicians, saying it had led to “no meaningful development in the country for the past five years”.

The crisis, he concluded, meant Zimbabwe was struggling with “cash shortages and rising commodity prices”.

–

Source: BBC

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“I have listened carefully to all who have expressed their concerns,” WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

He had previously praised Zimbabwe for its commitment to public health.

But critics pointed out that Zimbabwe’s healthcare system had collapsed under Mr Mugabe’s 30-year rule.

Staff often go without pay, medicines are in short supply, and Mr Mugabe, who has outlived the average life expectancy in his country by three decades, travels abroad for medical treatment.

Mr Tedros said he had consulted with the Zimbabwean government and decided that rescinding Mr Mugabe’s position was “in the best interests of” the WHO.

He said he remained “firmly committed to working with all countries and their leaders” to build universal health care.

Mr Tedros, elected in May under the slogan “let’s prove the impossible is possible” had said he hoped Mr Mugabe would use his goodwill ambassador role to “influence his peers in the region”.

But the appointment was met by a wave of surprise and condemnation. The UK government, the Canadian prime minister, the Wellcome Trust, the NCD Alliance, UN Watch, the World Heart Federation, Action Against Smoking and Zimbabwean lawyers and social media users were among those who criticised the decision.

–

Source: BBC

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