ZIMBABWE: Emmerson Mnangagwa Is New Interim Leader; Mugabe And Family Detained

Emmerson Mnangagwa is New Interim Leader

Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe and his wife have been detained by the military in a 'bloodless transition' of power - and the country's deposed vice-president has returned from exile.

Zimbabwe media reported that vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa (in the dark blue suit) had returned to the country and will be taking control 'as per the military'

Daily Mail UK report continues:

Mugabe's decades-long grip on power appeared to be over this morning after military vehicles blocked roads outside the parliament in Harare and senior soldiers delivered a late-night television address to the nation.

This morning, a Twitter account belonging to the country's ruling party claimed the 93-year-old and his family were being 'detained and are safe, both for the constitution and the sanity of the nation'.

It claimed that the 'elderly' president had been 'taken advantage of by his wife', Grace, who had been seen as a possible successor to her husband.

Former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75, a veteran of Zimbabwe's 1970s liberation wars who was sacked by Mugabe earlier this month, has returned from exile and has been named ZANU PF's new interim president.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Zimbabwe had ordered employees and US citizens in the African nation to take cover and seek shelter. British nationals are also being advised to stay indoors amid reports of 'unusual military activity'. 

The tweets denied there had been a coup, but said:  'There has been a decision to intervene because our constitution had been undermined, in the interim Comrade E Mnagngawa will be president of ZANU PF as per the constitution of our revolutionary organization.

'Last night the first family was detained and are safe, both for the constitution and the sanity of the nation this was necessary. 

'Neither Zimbabwe nor ZANU are owned by Mugabe and his wife. Today begins a fresh new era and comrade Mnangagwa will help us achieve a better Zimbabwe. 

'There was no coup, only a bloodless transition which saw corrupt and crooked persons being arrested and an elderly man who had been taken advantage of by his wife being detained. 

'The few bangs that were heard were from crooks who were resisting arrest, but they are now detained.'

Last night Zimbabwe's military stormed the country's national broadcaster's studios to declare it is 'targeting criminals' amid fears of a coup after reports of explosions and gunfire in the capital.