The Zimbabwe army took control of the country and held the 93-year-old president Robert Mugabe at his home. South African President Jacob Zuma said after a telephone conversation, that Mugabe feels good.

Temporary president is former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was removed last week by Mugabe for allegedly disloyalty, putting his 52-year-old wife, Grace Mugabe, as the most likely successor.

Zanu-PF ( The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front, which has been the ruling party in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980) representative in the UK, Nick Mnangwana, told the BBC that he had received information about the escape of Grace Mugabe to Namibia. Mnangwana also emphasized that Mugabe's wife was not an important party member and that her power was derived solely from being president's wife.

The army took control

The army closed the roads to government offices, parliament and courts in the capital city Harare, and took control of the airport, the city's main roads and the public television ZBC, where Major General Sibuiso Moya read the statement in which the military denies the "military takeover of the government" and that the President Mugabe is safe and the judiciary remains independent.

"We are looking for criminals surrounding Mugabe. They are causing social and economic suffering in the country. As soon as we complete the mission, we expect that the normal situation will return," read Moyo. 

There were explosions in the city. The army called people to stay calm and to stay at home. 

South Africa in Zimbabwe sends Defense and Security Minister, who will talk with both Mugabe and the military as the neighboring country, wants to contribute to a peaceful solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe.

The takeover of power took place only hours after the ruling party Zanu-PF, accused the Supreme Commander of the Army, Constantine Chiwengo, of treacherous behavior. He announced the possibility of a military intervention that would "purify" the ruling party.