The military council that staged a coup in Zimbabwe has shown signs of backtracking after the African Union spoke against his removal.
The head of the African Union, quoted in a BBC interview yesterday said that the African Union “will in no case accept” the military seizure of power. He said he was “inviting the army to return to its barracks and return to constitutional order”.” The AU is concerned that the success of the coup sets a bad example for the rest of the continent which was coup prone.
This morning, President Robert Mugabe appeared on television with General Chiwenga, the leader of the coup plotters. He appeared relaxed and in a warm relationship with Chiwenga, who seemed to have backed down from his hardline stance.
After the coup, South African Development Corporation (SADC) and the African Union got involved in negotiations for a peaceful settlement. Mugabe has insisted that he must complete his term, because he was elected through a credible, free and fair election. It is yet to be seen if the military will keep Mugabe in office for the remaining part of his term.
The coup in Zimbabwe has been applauded especially western countries, which have had an acrimonious relationship with one of the world’s oldest leaders.
