2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état

==Mugabe's house arrest, negotiations, and resignation==
[[File:Robert Mugabe May 2015 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|right|President [[Robert Mugabe]], 93, who under different titles led Zimbabwe between 1980 and 2017]]

Major General SB Moyo's initial statement said that "Mugabe and his family are safe and sound, and their security is guaranteed", indicating that President Mugabe and [[Grace Mugabe]] were likely both under military custody, though no clarifications were initially issued.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/zimbabawe-military-takes-over-the-country-says-president-mugabe-is-safe/2017/11/15/086865c2-c9d2-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html|title=Zimbabwe's military takes over country, says President Mugabe is 'safe'|last1=Sieff|first1=Kevin|date=15 November 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=15 November 2017|last2=Schemm|first2=Paul|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115224913/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/zimbabawe-military-takes-over-the-country-says-president-mugabe-is-safe/2017/11/15/086865c2-c9d2-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> South African president [[Jacob Zuma]] said that Robert Mugabe had been placed under [[house arrest]] by the Zimbabwe military. Mugabe told Zuma in a phone call that he was fine but was unable to leave his home.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41997982|title=Robert Mugabe 'under house arrest'|date=15 November 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=15 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115124456/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41997982|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/14/africa/zimbabwe-military-chief-treasonable-conduct/index.html|title=Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent coup|author1=David McKenzie|author2=Brent Swails|author3=Angela Dewan|publisher=CNN|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114223043/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/14/africa/zimbabwe-military-chief-treasonable-conduct/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Sky News]] reported that there were unconfirmed reports that Grace Mugabe had fled to [[Namibia]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/robert-mugabes-wife-grace-flees-zimbabwe-amid-army-takeover-11127740|title=African Union head says Zimbabwe army takeover 'seems like a coup'|date=15 November 2017|publisher=[[Sky News]]|access-date=15 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115153901/https://news.sky.com/story/robert-mugabes-wife-grace-flees-zimbabwe-amid-army-takeover-11127740|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' also initially cited unconfirmed reports that she was in Namibia for a business trip, but later reported that she was apparently in detention with the rest of the family.<ref name=":10" /> On 15 November, Namibia neither confirmed nor denied the reports that Grace Mugabe was in the country.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/61581/read/Namibia-worried-about-Zimbabwe|title=Namibia worried about Zimbabwe|date=15 November 2017|work=[[The Namibian]]|access-date=15 November 2017|language=en|archive-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116055256/https://www.namibian.com.na/61581/read/Namibia-worried-about-Zimbabwe|url-status=live}}</ref> However, on 16 November, state-owned newspaper [[New Era (Namibia)|''New Era'']] quoted Namibian deputy prime minister [[Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah]] denying that Grace Mugabe was in the country.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newera.com.na/2017/11/16/grace-mugabe-not-here-says-government/|title=Grace Mugabe not here, says government|date=16 November 2017|work=New Era Newspaper Namibia|access-date=16 November 2017|language=en-ZA|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117123226/https://www.newera.com.na/2017/11/16/grace-mugabe-not-here-says-government/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On Wednesday, 15 November, South African Defence Minister [[Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula]] and State Security Minister [[Bongani Bongo]] arrived at the Harare airport but were not allowed to leave the airport until the evening, when they were allowed to move to a hotel.<ref name="ST01">{{Cite news|title=The people have spoken|last1=wa Afrika|first1=Mzilikazi|date=19 November 2017|work=The Sunday Times|location=South Africa|last2=Ncube|first2=Njabulo|pages=1, 6|last3=Karombo|first3=Tawanda|last4=Ndlovu|first4=Ray}}</ref>{{rp|6}} On Thursday, 16 November, Mugabe was at Harare's State House to participate in talks with General Chiwenga and the two envoys from the [[Southern African Development Community]] over a transition of power. His friend and Catholic priest [[Fidelis Mukonori]] acted as a mediator.<ref name=":13" /> Others present were Zimbabwe's Defence Minister and State Security Minister, [[Sydney Sekeramayi]] and [[Kembo Mohadi]] respectively. One of the leading figures in the [[2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt|alleged coup attempt of 2007]], Air Vice Marshal [[Elson Moyo]], was also present.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://zambiareports.com/2017/11/17/uncertainty-over-zimbabwe-crisis-mugabe-exit-stalls/ |title=Uncertainty Over Zimbabwe Crisis: Mugabe Exit Stalls |publisher=Zambia Reports |last=Mwenya |first=George |date=2017-11-17 |access-date=2018-01-10 |archive-date=2 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202203128/https://zambiareports.com/2017/11/17/uncertainty-over-zimbabwe-crisis-mugabe-exit-stalls/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to sources referred to by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' and [[BBC News]], Mugabe and his allies did not support his voluntary resignation before the end of his presidential term, which would coincide with the planned [[Zimbabwean general election, 2018|general election in 2018]].<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14" /> That same day, ''[[The Independent]]'' reported that ZANU–PF leaders planned to meet the next day to draft a resolution dismissing Mugabe as president on 19 November and impeaching him on 21 November if he refused to step down.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/zimbabwe-crisis-latest-robert-mugabe-zanu-pf-talks-replacing-president-military-takeover-harare-a8059746.html|title=Zimbabwe's army 'planning to impeach Mugabe'|last=Copley|first=Ed|date=17 November 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=17 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117071048/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/zimbabwe-crisis-latest-robert-mugabe-zanu-pf-talks-replacing-president-military-takeover-harare-a8059746.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On Friday, 17 November, Mugabe appeared to have been temporarily released from his house arrest to attend a graduation ceremony at [[Zimbabwe Open University]] in Harare.<ref name="McKenzie"/>

[[File:Emmerson Mnangagwa 2017.png|upright=0.77|thumb|right|On 19 November, [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]] replaced Mugabe as the leader of ZANU–PF.]]
On Sunday, 19 November, Mugabe was sacked as the leader of ZANU–PF, and [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]], the former Zimbabwean vice-president, appointed in his place.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42043370|title=Ruling party sacks Mugabe as leader|date=19 November 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 November 2017|archive-date=19 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119115929/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42043370|url-status=live}}</ref> Reports emerged that Mugabe was on [[hunger strike]], refusing to voluntarily step down as [[President of Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/mugabe-on-hunger-strike-as-zimbabwe-officials-meet-to-discuss-his-removal-a3695156.html|title=Robert Mugabe 'on hunger strike' as Zimbabwe officials meet to discuss his removal|date=17 November 2017|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-date=19 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119123756/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/mugabe-on-hunger-strike-as-zimbabwe-officials-meet-to-discuss-his-removal-a3695156.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-122415.html|date=19 November 2017|title=Mugabe goes on hunger strike, refuses to talk|access-date=19 November 2017|archive-date=22 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122110203/http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-122415.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The same day, Grace Mugabe and 20 of her associates were expelled from ZANU–PF.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/19/zimbabwe-ruling-party-fires-robert-mugabe-as-leader|title=Chaos in Zimbabwe after Mugabe fails to announce expected resignation|first1=Jason Burke Africa|last1=correspondent|first2=Emma|last2=Graham-Harrison|date=20 November 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|website=The Guardian|archive-date=19 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119203404/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/19/zimbabwe-ruling-party-fires-robert-mugabe-as-leader|url-status=live}}</ref> Reports later that day suggested that Mugabe would resign during a television address that evening. However, during that address he said that he would remain as president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42046911|title=Defiant Mugabe vows to stay on|date=20 November 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|publisher=BBC|archive-date=26 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726215055/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42046911|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 November, the country's military commander General [[Constantino Chiwenga]] announced in a televised address to the nation that former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa would soon return to Zimbabwe to resume talks with Mugabe and that he was encouraged by the contact between Mnangagwa, whom the army wanted to succeed Mugabe, and the President.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/main/mugabe-meet-mnagagwa-talks-chiwenga/|title='Mugabe to meet with Mnagagwa for talks' – Chiwenga – The Zimbabwe Mail|date=20 November 2017|website=Thezimbabwe.com|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-date=23 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123024141/http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/main/mugabe-meet-mnagagwa-talks-chiwenga/|url-status=live}}</ref> On the same day, a motion to impeach and hold a no confidence vote against Mugabe was drafted by [[Lovemore Matuke]], the ZANU–PF chief whip in parliament,<ref name="auto1"/> before Mugabe finally resigned at 18:00 local time by sending a letter to the Speaker of Parliament.<ref name=":15" /> Vice-President [[Phelekezela Mphoko]] became the Acting President.<ref name="herald.co.zw"/>

There was little interest among the political elite in prosecuting Mugabe, with those who had sought his impeachment in the past arguing he should be "allowed to rest".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/world/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-mnangagwa.html|title=Mugabe Will Continue Living in Zimbabwe, Spokesman Says|last=Onishi|first=Norimitsu|date=2017-11-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-11-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124103937/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/world/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-mnangagwa.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 November, military authorities agreed to grant Mugabe and his wife [[immunity from prosecution]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/23/zimbabwe-grants-robert-mugabe-immunity-from-prosecution|title=Zimbabwe grants Robert Mugabe immunity from prosecution|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=23 November 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 November 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=23 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123121702/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/23/zimbabwe-grants-robert-mugabe-immunity-from-prosecution|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/23/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-mnangagwa/index.html|title=Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe granted immunity, military says|author1=Angela Dewan|author2=Brent Swails|publisher=CNN|access-date=23 November 2017|archive-date=23 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123133109/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/23/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-mnangagwa/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple was also to receive no less than $10&nbsp;million, according to the constitution.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/25/robert-mugabe-payoff-family-immunity-zimbabwe-zanu-pf|title=Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe to get $10m payoff and immunity for his family|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=2017-11-26|work=The Observer|access-date=2017-11-28|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712|archive-date=28 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128003810/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/25/robert-mugabe-payoff-family-immunity-zimbabwe-zanu-pf|url-status=live}}</ref>