Harare, Nov 15 (AP) At least three explosions were heardin Zimbabwe's capital early today and military vehicles wereseen in the streets after the army commander threatened to"step in" to calm political tensions over 93-year-oldPresident Robert Mugabe's possible successor.
The ruling party accused the commander of "treasonableconduct."The Associated Press saw armed soldiers assaultingpassers-by in the early morning hours in Harare, as well assoldiers loading ammunition near a group of four militaryvehicles. The explosions could be heard near the University ofZimbabwe campus.
Those developments came several hours after TheAssociated Press yesterday saw three armoured personnelcarriers with several soldiers in a convoy heading toward anarmy barracks just outside the capital.
For the first time, this southern African nation isseeing an open rift between the military and Mugabe, theworld's oldest head of state who has ruled since independencefrom white minority rule in 1980. The military has been a keypillar of his power.
Mugabe last week fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwaand accused him of plotting to take power, including throughwitchcraft. Mnangagwa, who enjoyed the military's backing andonce was seen as a potential president, fled the country andsaid he had been threatened. Over 100 senior officialsallegedly supporting him have been listed for disciplinarymeasures by a faction associated with Mugabe's wife, Grace.
The first lady now appears positioned to replaceMnangagwa as one of the country's two vice presidents at aspecial conference of the ruling party in December, leadingmany in Zimbabwe to suspect that she could succeed herhusband.
Grace Mugabe is unpopular with some Zimbabweans becauseof lavish spending as many struggle, and four people accusedof booing her at a recent rally were arrested.
On Monday, army commander Constantino Chiwenga issued anunprecedented statement saying purges against senior rulingZANU-PF party officials, many of whom like Mnangagwa foughtfor liberation, should end "forthwith.""We must remind those behind the current treacherousshenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting ourrevolution, the military will not hesitate to step in," thearmy commander said. The state-run broadcaster did not reporton his statement.
Showing a generational divide, the ruling party's youthleague, aligned with the 52-year-old first lady, on Tuesdaycriticised the army commander's comments, saying youth were"ready to die for Mugabe."Yesterday night the ruling party issued a statementaccusing the army commander of "treasonable conduct," sayinghis comments were "clearly calculated to disturb nationalpeace and stability" and were "meant to incite insurrection."It was not clear whether the commander still had hispost.
State broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation readout part of the ruling party statement late in the nightlynews, which was led by a report on regional tourism.
The army spokesman was not immediately available forcomment. (AP)AJR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.