2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état

===Wednesday, 15 November===

The army then proceeded to raid the homes of twenty other people.<ref name=ST02/>{{rp|6}} Minister of Higher Education [[Jonathan Moyo]] was tipped off by a member of the army on early Wednesday morning and fled to the house of [[Saviour Kasukuwere]], Minister of Local Government, and his family.<ref name=ST02/>{{rp|6}} That home was then attacked by the army around 2.30&nbsp;am with gunfire before a ceasefire allowed the two families to escape to Mugabe's home.<ref name=ST02/>{{rp|6}} The army also raided the home of Finance Minister [[Ignatius Chombo]], but they came under fire from his private Israeli security guards.<ref name=ST02/>{{rp|6}} One member of the guard was killed.<ref name=ST02/>{{rp|6}} Chombo was detained and assaulted by the troops; US$10&nbsp;million in cash was found in the house.<ref name=ST02/>{{rp|6}} Police duties had been restricted and Police Commissioner [[Augustine Chihuri]] was missing, presumed arrested.<ref name=ST02/>{{rp|6}}

At 5&nbsp;am [[Major General]] [[Sibusiso Moyo]], the army chief of staff and an ally of Chiwenga's, spoke on behalf of the [[Zimbabwe Defence Forces]] in a broadcast on ZBC.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KClcw5KPBqE|title=Mugabe is 'safe and sound' Zimbabwe's army says|date=15 November 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119140642/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KClcw5KPBqE|url-status=live}}</ref> Moyo asserted that it was not a military takeover and that President Mugabe was safe. However, the statement also said that the military was "targeting criminals" around Mugabe responsible for the country's socio-economic problems, and that after they achieved their aims, the situation would "return to normalcy".<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/15/the-situation-has-moved-to-another-level-zimbabwe-army-statement-in-full|title='The situation has moved to another level': Zimbabwe army statement in full|last=Guardian staff|date=15 November 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 November 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115062322/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/15/the-situation-has-moved-to-another-level-zimbabwe-army-statement-in-full|url-status=live}}</ref> Moyo announced that all military leave was cancelled, soldiers should return to their [[barracks]], security forces should "cooperate for the good of our country", and that "any provocation will be met with an appropriate response".<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/14/tensions-rise-in-zimbabwe-as-military-drives-through-outskirts-of-capital|title=Military urges calm in Zimbabwe after it seizes key sites in capital|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=15 November 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 November 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=18 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818000322/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/14/tensions-rise-in-zimbabwe-as-military-drives-through-outskirts-of-capital|url-status=live}}</ref> Moyo also said that the independence of the [[judiciary of Zimbabwe]] was guaranteed and that citizens should remain calm and avoid unnecessary movement.<ref name=":0" />

After the speech, the military apprehended [[Ignatius Chombo]], the Zimbabwean [[Ministry of Finance (Zimbabwe)|finance minister]] and a leader of G40, the pro-Grace Mugabe faction of ZANU–PF.<ref name=":4" /> According to South Africa's ''[[The Times (South Africa)|The Times]]'', other cabinet ministers seized who were leaders in G40 included Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2017-11-15-zimbabwe-ministers-arrested/|title=Zimbabwe ministers arrested|last=Ndlovu|first=Ray|date=15 November 2017|work=[[The Times (South Africa)|The Times]]|access-date=15 November 2017|language=en-SA|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115140437/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2017-11-15-zimbabwe-ministers-arrested/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Also early that morning, gunfire and [[artillery]] were heard in the northern suburbs of Harare, where many government officials, including the president, had their residences.<ref name=":0" /> According to [[Agence France-Presse]], a witness heard sustained gunfire near Mugabe's private home in the suburb of [[Borrowdale, Harare|Borrowdale]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> [[Reuters]] reported an explosion close to the main campus of the [[University of Zimbabwe]].<ref name=":4" /> Soldiers also blocked access to the [[Parliament of Zimbabwe]], government buildings, courthouses, and the president's official residence in Harare.<ref name=":4" /> It was reported that two journalists were assaulted by the military and hospitalised.<ref name="news24journo">{{Cite web |url=https://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/mugabe-under-heavy-guard-as-situation-deteriorates-in-zim-20171115 |title=Mugabe under 'heavy guard' as situation deteriorates in Zim |last=Chikowore |first=Frank |date=15 November 2017 |website=News24 |access-date=15 November 2017 |archive-date=15 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115112730/https://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/mugabe-under-heavy-guard-as-situation-deteriorates-in-zim-20171115 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The military announced a press conference for Wednesday morning, where it was expected that the responsible officers would present a deal with President Mugabe that settled his fate and that of his allies. However, the conference was delayed and then cancelled outright, possibly because of a breakdown in negotiations between Mugabe and the military.<ref name=":11" />

For most of Wednesday morning, state-controlled television and radio stations simply rebroadcast Moyo's statement without further news updates, and played patriotic songs from the 1980s about independence alongside normal programming. State-owned newspaper ''[[The Herald (Zimbabwe)|The Herald]]'' ran headlines downplaying the military's actions and its website ran a live blog under the headline "Live and developing: No Military Takeover in Zim".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42001242|title=Zimbabwe media slow to cover takeover|last=BBC Monitoring|date=15 November 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=15 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116071751/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42001242|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.herald.co.zw/latest-developing-no-military-takeover-in-zim/|title=LIVE: No Military Takeover in Zimbabwe|last=Machivenyika|first=Farirai|date=15 November 2017|work=[[The Herald (Zimbabwe)|The Herald]]|publisher=herald.co.zw|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115180410/http://www.herald.co.zw/latest-developing-no-military-takeover-in-zim/|url-status=live}}</ref>

By Wednesday afternoon, the roadblocks around key government buildings in Harare had been removed, armoured vehicles were off the streets, and there was no longer extra security in the Borrowdale suburb, where most senior officials had their private homes. Although there was less overall traffic in the city, ordinary activities like school, administrative offices, and businesses returned to normal. Outside Harare, including [[Bulawayo]], the country's second-largest city, Zimbabweans experienced little to no added military presence.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/15/harare-wakes-up-to-new-era-zimbabwe-coup-robert-mugabe|title='Like a dream': Harare wakes up to new era after a very low-key coup|date=15 November 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 November 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115202020/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/15/harare-wakes-up-to-new-era-zimbabwe-coup-robert-mugabe|url-status=live}}</ref>

The same day, ZBC broadcast an apology from ZANU–PF youth wing leader Kudzai Chipanga to General Chiwenga, whom he had criticised the day before. Chipanga said that he made his statement voluntarily and that he and other members of the youth league "are still young and make mistakes".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-youth/youth-leader-of-zimbabwes-ruling-party-apologizes-to-military-on-state-tv-idUSKBN1DF337|title=Youth leader of Zimbabwe's ruling party apologizes to military on state TV|date=15 November 2017|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=16 November 2017|archive-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116014645/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-youth/youth-leader-of-zimbabwes-ruling-party-apologizes-to-military-on-state-tv-idUSKBN1DF337|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42006777|title=Zimbabwe awaits next steps after takeover|date=16 November 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=16 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116093812/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42006777|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zbc.co.zw/2017/11/15/cde-chipanga-apologises-to-zdf/|title=Cde Chipanga apologises to ZDF Commander|date=15 November 2017|website=[[Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation]]|url-status=dead|access-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116100833/http://www.zbc.co.zw/2017/11/15/cde-chipanga-apologises-to-zdf/|archive-date=16 November 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Morgan Tsvangirai Oslo 2009 A.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|[[Morgan Tsvangirai]]]]
[[Morgan Tsvangirai]], the former prime minister and leader of the main opposition party [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai]], who had won 42% of the popular vote against Mugabe's 56.2% in the [[Zimbabwean presidential election, 2002|2002 presidential election]], returned from receiving cancer treatments abroad.<ref name=":13">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/16/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-wife-grace-insisting-finishes-term-priest/|title=Zimbabwe coup: Robert Mugabe and wife Grace 'insisting he finishes his term', as priest steps in to mediate|date=16 November 2017|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=16 November 2017|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116122822/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/16/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-wife-grace-insisting-finishes-term-priest/|url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after his return to the country, Tsvangirai called for Mugabe to step down.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42020416|title=Mugabe 'resisting calls to stand down'|date=16 November 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=16 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117005320/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42020416|url-status=live}}</ref>