2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état

=== 8–12 November ===

On 8 November 2017, Mnangagwa fled to Mozambique and then South Africa to escape "incessant threats" against his family.<ref name="nytimes1119"/><ref name="bloomberg_flees">{{cite news|last1=Kumbuka|first1=Desmond|last2=Marawanyika|first2=Godfrey|last3=Latham|first3=Brian|title=Zimbabwe's Ousted Vice President Flees After Death Threats|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-08/mugabe-guts-zimbabwe-security-state-with-deputy-s-dismissal|access-date=18 November 2017|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=8 November 2017|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110005428/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-08/mugabe-guts-zimbabwe-security-state-with-deputy-s-dismissal|url-status=live}}</ref> Mnangagwa issued a statement saying that he did not plan to harm Mugabe.<ref name="bloomberg_flees"/> He told Mugabe, "You and your cohorts will instead leave ZANU–PF by the will of the people and this we will do in the coming few weeks."<ref name="bloomberg_flees"/> Mnangagwa vowed to return and called for members of ZANU–PF to abandon the president.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/13/zimbabwe-army-chief-warns-military-could-step-in-over-party-purge|title=Zimbabwe army chief warns military could 'step in' over party purge|date=13 November 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 November 2017|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=9 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309195445/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/13/zimbabwe-army-chief-warns-military-could-step-in-over-party-purge|url-status=live}}</ref> After his exile, more than a hundred of Mnangagwa's alleged senior supporters were targeted for disciplinary sanctions by backers of Grace Mugabe.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/11/14/us-tells-citizens-in-zimbabwe-to-shelter-in-place-as-troops-seen-in-capital.html|title=US tells citizens in Zimbabwe to shelter in place as troops seen in capital|date=14 November 2017|publisher=[[Fox News]]|access-date=15 November 2017|agency=[[Reuters]]|language=en-US|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115025417/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/11/14/us-tells-citizens-in-zimbabwe-to-shelter-in-place-as-troops-seen-in-capital.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

That same day, Christopher Mutsvangwa also left for South Africa, where he warned South African intelligence that a military intervention was about to take place in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Zimbabwean army chief General [[Constantino Chiwenga]] was on an official visit to China, where he met generals [[Chang Wanquan]] and [[Li Zuocheng]]. While in China, General Chiwenga was advised by the military intelligence wing that Mugabe had ordered his arrest upon his return to Zimbabwe on 12 November 2017. Plans had already been put in place through the ZRP Support Unit (A paramilitary wing of the police). Soldiers loyal to Chiwenga, disguised as baggage handlers, overpowered the police at the airport and cleared the way for his arrival.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://news.pindula.co.zw/2017/11/17/zrp-support-unit-attempted-to-arrest-general-chiwenga-when-he-returned-from-china/| title=ZRP Support Unit Attempted to Arrest General Chiwenga when He Returned from China ⋆ Pindula News| date=17 November 2017| access-date=10 January 2019| archive-date=13 January 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113084123/https://news.pindula.co.zw/2017/11/17/zrp-support-unit-attempted-to-arrest-general-chiwenga-when-he-returned-from-china/| url-status=live}}</ref>