harare zimbabwe military seize power wednesday say hold president robert mugabe family safe target criminals entourage man rule nation since independence 37 years ago soldier seize state broadcaster general appear television announce takeover armor vehicles block roads main government offices parliament court central harare taxis ferry commuters work nearby atmosphere capital remain calm first contact outside world since takeover mugabe speak telephone president south africa jacob zuma tell confine home fine south african presidency say statement clear whether apparent military coup would bring formal end 93-year-old mugabe rule main goal general appear prevent mugabe wife grace 41 years junior succeed whether go may mark end country dominance mugabe last africa state founder still power era struggle colonialism one continent polarize figure mugabe still see many africans liberation hero revile west despot whose disastrous handle economy willingness resort violence maintain power destroy one africa promise state plunge zimbabwe fresh political crisis last week fire vice president presume successor general believe move aim clear path grace mugabe take announce monday prepare step purge ally end target criminals around mugabe commit crimes cause social economic suffer country order bring justice major general sb moyo chief staff logistics say television soon accomplish mission expect situation return normalcy sign grace mugabe ally come pressure head rule party youth wing kudzanai chipanga appear state tv wednesday even apologize comment make criticize army day early say speak voluntarily unite nations secretary-general antonio guterres african union western countries call calm south africa defense state security minister fly harare try arrange talk mugabe general south african media report without go detail tell developments zimbabwe play days ahead know whether mark downfall mugabe british foreign secretary boris johnson tell parliament international partner ensure provide genuine opportunity zimbabweans decide future finance minister ignatius chombo lead member rule party g40 faction lead grace mugabe detain military government source say wednesday afternoon business usual harare suburbs less traffic normal city center residents speak awe events previously seem unthinkable support army happy see mugabe go maybe country start develop say rumbi katepfu prepare shut mobile phone shop early downtown harare think would ever happen ... use think mugabe grace invincible even fell few people streets usual one park lone couple share chocolate bar seemingly unconcerned presence troop fear free country say nathan mpariwa stroke hand partner tank block roads dark soldier automatic weapons keep patrol make effort stop people stream home work whatever final outcome events could signal once-in-a-generation change southern african nation regional bread-basket reduce destitution economic crisis mugabe opponents long blame even many mugabe loyal supporters come oppose rise wife court powerful youth wing rule party alienate military lead mugabe former guerrilla comrades 1970s independence struggle correction state careen cliff chris mutsvangwa leader liberation war veterans tell reuters end painful sad chapter history young nation dictator become old surrender court gang thieve around wife opposition movement democratic change call peaceful return constitutional democracy add hop military intervention would lead establishment stable democratic progressive nation state zuma speak behalf southern african development community sadc express hope would unconstitutional change urge zimbabwe government military resolve political impasse amicably african state gain independence end 1960s zimbabwe remain one last european colonies continent rule white settlers rhodesia 1980. mugabe take power long guerrilla struggle two decades late order forcible seizure white-owned farm collapse output follow one bad economic depressions modern time 2007-2008 inflation top 500 billion percent mugabe blame britain unite state sabotage country bring heel followers use violence suppress grow domestic opposition brand lackeys former colonial power economy briefly stabilize 2010-2014 mugabe force accept power-sharing government opposition since recovery unravel last year chronic shortage dollars lead long queue outside bank import goods run economists say measure inflation 50 percent month economic implosion destabilize region send millions poor laborers neighbor south africa amaze thing happen time might 20 years late say billy 30 zimbabwean work market officer south africa ask would return zimbabwe economy revive say definitely place like home political crisis come head last week mugabe sack presume heir vice president emerson mnangagwa long-serving former leader security force nickname crocodile role mugabe enforcer decades head military hold news conference top brass monday threaten step purge veterans continue soldier deploy across harare tuesday seize state broadcaster mugabe rule party accuse military chief treason accord trove intelligence document review reuters year mnangagwa plan revitalize economy bring back white farmers kick land patch relations world bank imf zimbabwe 's army seize power mugabe confine `` safe ``