VIDEO: Mugabes under house arrest as Zimbabwean army takes over

This is an update on yesterday's post predicting a military coup in the failing state of Zimbabwe. Yesterday, Zimbabwean National Army commander Constantino Chiwenga issued an unprecedented statement saying purges against senior ruling party officials linked to the 1970s liberation war should end "forthwith". "When it comes to matters of protecting our revolution," he said, "the military will not hesitate to step in." And lo, it has come to pass. Lifetime pct .992.

Today a spokesthingy for the army announced on state-owned radio and TV stations that they have President Robert Mugabe and his wife in custody, and are securing government offices and patrolling the streets of the capital, Harare, following a night of unrest. In an address to the nation after taking control of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Maj.-Gen. Sibusiso Moyo said the military is targeting "criminals" around Mugabe, and sought to reassure the country that order will be restored. Without saying where Mugabe and his wife are being held, Moyo said, "Their security is guaranteed."

Although these events have all the hallmarks of a coup, supporters of the military praised their actions as a "bloodless correction". In the video, you see armed soldiers in bakkies (= pickup trucks) and armoured personnel carriers stationed at key points in Harare. Walt notes that the personnel carriers are the same antiquated vehicles in use when he lived in the country, twenty years ago. Then, as now, they were seen broken down or out of diesel at the roadside! Meanwhile, Zimbabweans formed long lines at banks in order to draw the limited cash available, a routine chore in the country's ongoing financial crisis. People looked at their phones to read about the army takeover and others went to work or to shops.

Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa, says he has spoken with Comrade Bob, and that the 93-year-old dictator is confined to one of his homes -- which one was unclear -- but is "fine". A statement from Mr Zuma's office says, in his capacity as Chair of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Mr Zuma is sending South Africa's ministers of defence and state security to Zimbabwe to meet with Mr Mugabe and the military. The purpose of the meeting is unclear, but may be to arrange for the Mugabes, Bob and the lovely Grace, to go into exile into the neighbouring country. The problem with that is that President Zuma's hold on office is slipping. If he is deposed, where will he and his several wives, along with the Mugabes, run then? It is said that SADC will continue to monitor the situation closely. So will Walt. Stay tuned.