El ejército toma el control en Zimbabue y pone bajo arresto a Mugabe

El ejército toma el control en Zimbabue y pone bajo arresto a Mugabe

Zimbabwean soldiers stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
El ejército tiene tomadas las calles de Zimbabue, noviembre 15, 2017 /Foto AFP

 

Las fuerzas armadas controlaban este miércoles la capital de Zimbabue, cuyo presidente Robert Mugabe, de 93 años, se ha declarado bajo arresto domiciliario, reseña AFP.

“No se trata de una toma del gobierno por militares […] Nuestro objetivo son criminales del entorno” del presidente, declaró el general Sibusiso Moyo en un discurso transmitido en vivo por la noche por la televisión estatal.





“No bien cumplamos con nuestra misión, esperamos que la situación regrese a la normalidad”, agregó.

La entrada en escena de los militares se produce en medio de una crisis abierta entre Mugabe y el jefe del Ejército, Constantino Chiwenga, tras la destitución del vicepresidente Emmerson Mnangagwa, durante mucho tiempo considerado como su delfín.

El miércoles por la mañana, soldados y vehículos blindados controlaban los accesos al parlamento, a la sede del partido gobernante, el Zanu-PF, y a las oficinas en las que el jefe del Estado suele reunir a sus ministros, constató un periodista de la AFP en la capital, Harare.

El presidente Mugabe se encontraba retenido en su domicilio por las fuerzas armadas. En una conversación telefónica con su homólogo sudafricano, Jacob Zuma, precisó que estaba bien.

– ‘Sanos y salvos’ –

Un testigo había indicado a la AFP anteriormente que había oído un nutrido tiroteo cerca de su casa “poco después de las 02H00 de la mañana [00H00 GMT]”.

“Queremos asegurar a la Nación que su excelencia el presidente (…) y sus familiares se encuentran sanos y salvos, y que su seguridad está garantizada”, recalcó el general Moyo en su discurso.

Por su parte, periodistas de la AFP constataron que, al margen de los sitios estratégicos, la capital funcionaba con normalidad. Pero la televisión nacional interrumpió su programación para difundir música.

Fiel apoyo de Mugabe, el presidente sudafricano Jacob Zuma se declaró hostil a cualquier cambio de régimen “inconstitucional” en Zimbabue.

“Muy preocupado” por la situación, Zuma envió a dos emisarios especiales para que se reúnan con el presidente Mugabe y con responsables militares, según un comunicado de su oficina.

La Unión Europea (UE), se declaró preocupada por la situación e instó al “diálogo” para alcanzar una “resolución pacífica”, señaló una portavoz de los servicios diplomáticos de la UE.

Tras varios días de vivas tensiones, la operación del ejército, hasta ahora considerado un pilar del régimen, constituye un desafío sin precedente a la autoridad de Mugabe.

El lunes, el jefe del Estado Mayor, el general Constantino Chiwenga, había denunciado públicamente la decisión del jefe del Estado de destituir al vicepresidente Mnangagwa.

El ejército podría “intervenir” si esta “purga” no cesaba dentro del partido presidencial, advirtió.

En respuesta, la formación del presidente denunció el martes que las declaraciones del general Chiwenga “sugieren una conducta traidora” con la intención de “incitar a la insurrección”.

– Veneno –

El general Chiwenga y Mnangagwa son dos figuras destacadas de la lucha por la independencia de esta excolonia británica, junto al actual jefe del Estado.

“No creo que Mugabe tenga ya el control total de la situación”, declaró a la AFP el analista político David Moore, de la universidad de Johannesburgo. “El ejército parece seguir una sola dirección, que es la que le impone su jefe”, agregó.

El exvicepresidente Mnangagwa, de 75 años, fue destituido la semana pasada y se vio obligado a exiliarse tras protagonizar una disputa con la primera dama, Grace Mugabe, de 52 años, quien no esconde su deseo de sustituir a su esposo llegado el momento.

Mnangagwa acusó a la segunda esposa del presidente de haber intentado envenenarlo para eliminarlo, suscitando una viva reacción de la interesada, que logró que lo expulsaran del Gobierno. Ahora, ocupa la posición ideal para suceder a su marido.

Mugabe es el decano de los jefes de Estado en activo. Tras 37 años en el poder, su partido lo invistió candidato para las elecciones de 2018, pese a su edad y su frágil estado de salud.

Bajo su régimen autoritario, el país africano se empobreció y desde principios de los años 2000 lidia con un desempleo masivo (cerca del 90% de la población activa) y falta de liquidez que retrasa el pago de salarios a los funcionarios.

AFP

Soldados junto a unos vehículos militares a las afueras de Harare, nov 14,2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo
Soldados junto a unos vehículos militares a las afueras de Harare, nov 14,2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo
Harare residents walk past campaign posters portraying Zimbabwe Opposition and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
AFP PHOTO / –
A man walks past an armoured personnel carrier that stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
AFP PHOTO / –
An armoured personnel carrier stations at an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
AFP PHOTO / –
This screen grab taken early on November 15, 2017 from a television broadcast on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting corporation (ZBC) shows Zimbabwe Major General Sibusiso Moyo reading a statement at the ZBC broadcast studio in Harare. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Robert Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Mayor General Sibusiso Moyo . / AFP PHOTO / –
A woman passes the street as Harare residents queue outside a bank in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
AFP PHOTO / –
A woman in military uniform walks past a billboard with a poster of ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) and a picture of President Robert Mugabe in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
AFP PHOTO / –
Young women walk past an armoured personnel carrier that stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
AFP PHOTO / –
An armoured personnel carrier stations at an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
An armoured personnel carrier stations at an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Harare residents look on as an armoured personnel carrier of the Zimbabwean military stands at an intersection in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Harare residents look on as an armoured personnel carrier of the Zimbabwean military stands at an intersection in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Residents buy fruits from a street vendor in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Residents buy fruits from a street vendor in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Residents walk in a street as others queue outside a bank in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Residents walk in a street as others queue outside a bank in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
A woman with an umbrella walks past residents queuing outside a bank in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
A woman with an umbrella walks past residents queuing outside a bank in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Residents queue outside a bank in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Residents queue outside a bank in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Zimbabwean soldiers stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Zimbabwean soldiers stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Zimbabwean soldiers stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Zimbabwean soldiers stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Zimbabwean soldiers stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in front of the High Court of Zimbabwe in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Zimbabwean soldiers stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in front of the High Court of Zimbabwe in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
Zimbabwean soldiers control vehicles as they stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
Zimbabwean soldiers control vehicles as they stand by an intersection as they regulate civilian traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –
An armoured personnel carrier stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / -
An armoured personnel carrier stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on November 15, 2017.
Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Mugabe. / AFP PHOTO / –