The military and senior officials within the ruling Zanu-PF party now appear set on forcing Mugabe out within 48 hours. These could lead to Mugabe being stripped of his office of president of the party by Sunday, one official told the Guardian. The statement appeared to have been aimed at quelling growing concerns that the military takeover could descend swiftly into chaos. Grace had accused 75-year-old Mnangagwa, a former intelligence chief, of being the “root cause of factionalism” in the ruling Zanu-PF party. South Africa says Mugabe has told its president, Jacob Zuma, by telephone that he is under house arrest but is "fine".

Source: The Guardian November 17, 2017 17:29 UTC