The AMUN Chronicle

Tension Heightens in Zimbabwe as Military Deposes President Mugabe

By Lorenzo Von Schwartsburg, Security Council

A potentially dangerous situation has emerged in the African country of Zimbabwe after a military takeover earlier this week deposed President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country since it gained its independence in 1980.

On 6 November, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a high-ranking military commander, was removed from his post by Mugabe’s administration. In response, General Constantino Chiwenga, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, issued a warning on 13 November stating that the military would “not hesitate to step in.” In the early morning hours of Wednesday 15 November, the Zimbabwean military secured the President’s residence with armed forces and displayed a show of force in Harare, the capitol. They then executed an armed takeover of the country’s national broadcaster, sending a message that they had “secured” President Mugabe and his family, and that they would target any “criminals” around Mugabe.

Reactions around the country and region have been mixed. General Chiwenga, a political ally of the ousted Vice President, has characterized Vice President Mnangagwa’s removal as “purging” and believes that President Mugabe has targeted members of the party with a “liberation background.” Zimbabwean military leaders have stated that this is “not a military takeover” but instead a display of opposition to Mugabe’s supposed successor and wife, Grace Mugabe. On Thursday 16 November, Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said “In the interest of the people, Mr. Robert Mugabe must resign and step down immediately.”

Some regional bodies have condemned the military action. Chairman of the African Union and Guinea President Alpha Condé said he was “inviting the [Zimbabwean] army to return to its barracks and return to constitutional order.”

At press time, President Mugabe remains under house arrest at his official residence and is reportedly in communication with the country’s military leaders, although he has appeared at least once in public at a graduation ceremony.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, have both called for the resolution of political differences through peaceful means, including conformity with Zimbabwe’s Constitution. In addition, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has stepped forward to assist with political stabilization. Secretary-General Guterres has welcomed these efforts and promised to monitor the situation closely.

The Security Council last focused on Zimbabwe in 2008 when its economy collapsed. At that time, a vote for a resolution to impose sanctions on President Mugabe failed. The Security Council has not released any official statements or scheduled any meetings specifically about the situation in Zimbabwe yet, but observers widely expect the Council to discuss the situation when they next meet.