Zimbabwe's army has taken over in the capital, Harare, but has assured people President Robert Mugabe, 93, is safe and well. Sputnik spoke to Zimbabwean political expert LSK Makani, who said it appeared to be the end of a long power struggle within the ruling ZANU-PF party.

After days of tension the army has taken over in Zimbabwe, but has given assurances that one of Africa's longest serving rulers, 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe, is safe and well.

The army has denied it is a "coup," but there are reports Mr. Mugabe's wife Grace, 52, has fled to neighboring Namibia and other members of a faction which supported her are in detention.

LSK Makani, a tech entrepreneur in Zimbabwe, said it was difficult to predict what was likely to happen in the next few days.

"It's hard to say what is going to happen next. Everything is happening quite fast. It's hard to predict what is going to happen next, but the army has assured people that it doesn't want to usurp power and they are not interested in helping the president in any way," he told Sputnik.

South African President Speaks to Robert Mugabe


Mr. Makani said the South African President, Jacob Zuma, had spoken to Mr. Mugabe and been assured he was fine.

He said the events of the last 24 hours appeared to have been the climax of a power struggle between two cliques, the G40 and the Lacoste faction, within the ruling ZANU-PF party.

The G40, or Generation 40, are so-called because they are younger politicians who were uncomfortable with a Zimbabwean law which does not allow anyone below the age of 40 from being a presidential candidate while the Lacoste faction get their name because they support Emmerson Mnangagwa, known as The Crocodile, who shares a logo with the French fashion label.
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