harare smile president robert mugabe picture shake hand zimbabwe military chief day army seize power throw confusion predictions 93-year-old nearly four-decade rule come end mugabe unexpectedly drive lavish blue roof harare compound harare confine since troop take streets state house official media picture meet military chief constantino chiwenga south african minister send mediate crisis official herald newspaper carry report outcome meet leave zimbabwe 13 million people dark happen night fell thursday mugabe insist remain zimbabwe legitimate ruler refuse quit pressure mount former guerrilla accept offer graceful exit source say thursday early political source speak senior ally hole compound mugabe wife grace say plan resign voluntarily ahead elections due next year sort stand-off stalemate source say insist president must finish term army takeover signal collapse less 36 hours security intelligence patronage network sustain mugabe 37 years power build grand old man african politics priest mediate mugabe general seize power wednesday call target operation criminals mugabe entourage make little headway senior political source tell reuters opposition leader morgan tsvangirai call mugabe departure interest people statement read reporters tsvangirai pointedly refer mr robert mugabe president army may want mugabe rule zimbabwe since independence 1980 go quietly allow smooth bloodless transition emmerson mnangagwa vice president mugabe sack last week trigger political crisis main goal general prevent mugabe hand power wife grace 41 years junior build follow among rule party youth wing appear cusp power mnangagwa push last africa state founder still power era struggle european colonization mugabe still see many africans liberation hero revile west despot whose disastrous handle economy willingness resort violence maintain power pauperize one africa promise state regional bread-basket zimbabwe saw economy collapse wake seizure white-owned farm early 2000s follow runaway money-printing catapult inflation 500 billion percent 2008. millions zimbabweans highly skilled bankers semi-literate farmers emigrate mostly neighbor south africa estimate million still live briefly stabilize 2009-2013 power-sharing government mugabe force work opposition economy cratered dollars scarce inflation surge import run queue outside bank fighter literally figuratively political career include several assassination attempt mugabe may reach end road army camp front door police see bastion support show sign resistance force option similarly little popular back harare widely loathe influence rule zanu-pf party evaporate zanu-pf youth leader kudzai chipanga vocal mugabe supporter publicly apologize oppose army march soldier state television headquarter read statement source broadcaster say take back army main kgvi pronounce kg six barrack harare finance minister ignatius chombo also hold army source say video footage obtain reuters house two key ally grace mugabe cabinet minister jonathan moyo saviour kasukuwere indicate army also prepare use force necessary moyo front door blow open explosives scatter glass across entrance hall inside wall kasukuwere house pock bullet hole pair manage escape even coup make mugabe compound remain effective house arrest one political source say zimbabwean intelligence report see reuters suggest mugabe exit plan year mnangagwa former security chief life-long mugabe confidant know crocodile key player accord file political source zimbabwe south africa mugabe resignation secure mnangagwa would take president interim unity government seek stabilize implode economy fuel speculation plan might roll action 65-year-old tsvangirai receive cancer treatment britain south africa return harare late wednesday ex-finance minister tendai biti add speculation tell reuters would happy work post-coup administration long tsvangirai also board morgan say say biti earn international respect time finance minister 2009-13 government country need solid pair hand one might choice south africa say mugabe tell president jacob zuma telephone wednesday confine home otherwise fine military say keep family include grace safe despite admiration mugabe among old african leaders little public affection 52-year-old grace ex-government typist begin affair mugabe early 1990s first wife sally die kidney failure dub disgrace gucci grace account repute love shop enjoy meteoric rise rank zanu-pf last two years culminate mnangagwa removal zimbabweans include mnangagwa camp military interpret vice president ouster move clear way succeed husband contrast high political drama unfold behind close doors streets capital remain calm people go daily business albeit watch soldier armor vehicles strategic locations zimbabwe 's mugabe coup chief meet smile handshakes