The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all sides in Zimbabwe to show “restraint” after the country’s military took control and President Robert Mugabe said he was under house arrest.
The UN spokesman Farhan Haq said that Guterres is monitoring the situation and “appeals for calm, non-violence and restraint.
Guterres “stresses the importance of resolving political differences through peaceful means and dialogue, and in line with the country’s constitution,” he added.
The UN chief noted that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was making efforts to end the crisis.
South Africa’s government said President Jacob Zuma had spoken by telephone to Mugabe, who “indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine.”
Mugabe, 93, has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence from Britain in 1980.
Meanwhile, the head of the African Union on Wednesday said the crisis in Zimbabwe “seems like a coup” and called on the military to halt their actions and restore constitutional order.
Alpha Conde said the AU condemned the actions of top brass in the southern African nation as “clearly soldiers trying to take power by force”.
The African Union expressed its serious concern regarding the situation unfolding in Zimbabwe, and pledged its support for the country’s legal institutions, AFP reports.
The body further demanded “constitutional order to be restored immediately and called on all stakeholders to show responsibility and restraint.
China has also weighed in on what is happening in Zimbabwe. Foreign ministry spokesperson, Geng Shuang says there was nothing unusual about the military chief’s trip to Beijing last week and is confident that the country will soon resolve the political impasse
“As a country that is friendly with Zimbabwe, we are paying close attention to developments of the situation in Zimbabwe…Maintaining peaceful and stable development accords with the fundamental interests of Zimbabwe and regional countries, and is the common desire of the international community. We hope the relevant parties in Zimbabwe appropriately handle their internal matters.” Shuang said.
The Southern African nation has been on edge since Monday when Chiwenga, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said he was prepared to “step in” to end a purge of supporters of sacked vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Only a few months ago, Mnangagwa, a former security chief nicknamed “The Crocodile”, was favourite to succeed his life-long political patron but was ousted a week ago to pave the way for Mugabe’s 52-year-old wife Grace to succeed him.
