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Agence France-Presse

Zimbabwe’s former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking last week triggered the military’s takeover, has returned to the country, an aide said Friday as ageing leader Robert Mugabe clung onto power.
Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed to President Mugabe, flew back to Harare on Thursday after nearly a week abroad as army chiefs and the president met to negotiate Mugabe’s exit from office.
The 93-year-old president has refused to resign, sources said, after soldiers this week put him under house arrest in a stunning turnaround for the veteran leader who has ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since 1980.
The generals took over late on Tuesday after Mnangagwa was sacked by the president and Mugabe’s wife, Grace, emerged in prime position to succeed her increasingly frail husband.
The military was strongly opposed to Grace’s rise, while Mnangagwa has maintained close ties to the defence establishment.

Mugabe’s motorcade on Thursday took him from his private residence to the State House for the talks, which were also attended by envoys from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc.
“He is refusing to step down. I think he is trying to buy time,” said a source close to the army leadership who declined to be named.
Government TV showed Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state, dressed in a navy blue blazer and grey trousers standing alongside army chief General Constantino Chiwenga.
Zimbabwe was left stunned by this week’s military intervention which came after Mugabe’s advanced age sparked the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe’s most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.
But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing rebuke of Mugabe’s leadership and Grace’s presidential ambitions.

The military said Friday they had detained some “criminals” in Mugabe’s government in a reference to supporters of Grace’s presidential ambitions.
Grace has not been seen since the military takeover.
State TV said a graduation ceremony at a university where Mugabe is the chancellor would proceed as planned on Friday, although it was unclear if he would attend.
Morgan Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and long-time opponent of Mugabe, told journalists in Harare on Thursday that Mugabe must resign “in the interest of the people”.
He added that “a transitional mechanism” would be needed to ensure stability.
Tendai Biti, who served as finance minister during the coalition government after the 2008 elections, called it “a very delicate time for Zimbabwe”.
“A way has to be worked out to maintain stability,” he said.
Harare’s residents have largely ignored the few soldiers still on the streets with shops, businesses and offices operating as usual.
Eldred Masunungure, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said the formation of a “pre-election coalition” could be a viable response to the crisis.
The international community has been watching the crisis closely.
In Paris, the head of the African Union, Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, warned that the continent “will never accept the military coup d’etat” in Zimbabwe and called for a return to the “constitutional order”.
“(Problems) need to be resolved politically by the ZANU-PF party and not with an intervention by the army,” added Conde.
Meeting in Botswana, the SADC called for an emergency regional summit to help resolve the crisis, urging Zimbabwe to “settle the political challenges through peaceful means”.
Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial ruler, called for elections scheduled for 2018 to go ahead.


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Ousted vice-president returns to Zimbabwe as Robert Mugabe tries to cling to power

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe poses alongside Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga and South African envoys at State House in Harare. Photo: AFP

Soldiers sit on a military vehicle parked on a street in Harare, Zimbabwe, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. People across the country are starting another day of uncertainty amid quiet talks to resolve the country's political turmoil and the likely end of President Robert Mugabe's decades-long rule. Mugabe has been in military custody and there is no sign of the recently fired deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, who fled the country last week. (AP Photo)

FILE PHOTO: President Robert Mugabe's wife Grace Mubage and vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa attend a gathering of the ZANU-PF party's top decision-making body, the Politburo, in the capital Harare, Zimbabwe, February 10, 2016. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo/File Photo

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe addresses party members and officials gathered at his party headquarters to show support to Grace Mugabe becoming the party's next Vice President after the dismissal of Emerson Mnangagwa November 8 2017. Zimbabwe's sacked vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said on November 8, 2017, he had fled the country, as he issued a direct challenge to long-ruling President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA

epa06310346 Zimbabwe First Lady Grace Mugabe addresses a church interface rally at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe, 05 November 2017. The rally which was composed mainly by the apostolic sect was aimed to preach peace and unity to ensure the country holds peaceful elections in 2018. Grace Mugabe also took the platform to attack vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa for attempting to topple Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. EPA-EFE/AARON UFUMELI

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First Lady Grace Mugabe address the ZANU PF Women's League National Assemby meeting in Harare,Zimbabwe,July 27,2017.Where she challenged his husband and President Robert Mugabe to choose his successor.President Mugabe also attended the meeting.(Xinhua/Sipa USA/TNS)

A woman holds up a portrait of Grace Mugabe during a gathering of President's supporters at his party headquarters to show support to Grace Mugabe becoming the party's next Vice President after the dismissal of Emerson Mnangagwa November 8 2017. Zimbabwe's sacked vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said on November 8, 2017, he had fled the country, as he issued a direct challenge to long-ruling President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 photo, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, left, and his wife Grace chant the party's slogan during a solidarity rally in Harare. Zimbabwe's army has taken President Robert Mugabe and his wife into custody, triggering speculation of a military coup. Many foreign leaders have been ousted from power and detained as the result of interventions by foreign armies. The Mugabes, however, have joined the ranks of world leaders who were detained as a result of developments in their own countries. (AP Photo, File)

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe (left) is likely facing the end of his iron-fisted reign, with a military takeover of the southern African nation on Wednesday. Earlier in November, he dismissed his Vice-President, a move that many saw as paving the way for his wife Grace (right) to run the country when he dies or steps down. Photo: AFP

PICTURES: Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe's wife Grace shopping in Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. MUST CARRY PICTURE CREDIT: Sinopix, Hong Kong NOTE: Pictures for one-time use in SCMP Monday, only. Not to be sold on. Pictures used will be invoiced for by Sinopix Hong Kong. *** This photo was licensed for one time use only. PLEASE CLEAR THE COPYRIGHTS WITH THE OWNER BEFORE REPUBLISHING THIS IMAGE.***

(FILES) This file photo taken on May 24, 2014 shows Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (L) arriving with his wife Grace for the inauguration ceremony of South African President Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country on November 15, 2017 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa's dismissal left Mugabe's wife Grace, 52, in prime position to succeed her husband as the next president -- a succession strongly opposed by senior ranks in the military. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SIPHIWE SIBEKO

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A statement read by Major General Sibusiso Moyo asserted that the action in Zimbabwe was only meant to target ‘criminals around’ leader Robert Mugabe. Photo: Reuters

A man reads the front page of a special edition of The Herald newspaper about the crisis in Zimbabwe with the headline 'No military takeover - ZDF' on November 15, 2017 in Harare. Zimbabwe's military was in control of the country today as the President said he was under house arrest, although generals denied staging a coup. Mugabe's decades-long grip on power appeared to be fading as military vehicles blocked roads outside the parliament in Harare and senior soldiers delivered a late-night television address to the nation. / AFP PHOTO / -

A Zimbabwean army armoured personnel carrier is parked at an intersection on November 15, 2017 in Harare, Zimbabwe. On Harare's streets, many expressed amazement and delight on November 15 that incumbent president's long reign may be coming to a close, but people also admitted the future looked unstable. The visible impact of the momentous political upheaval was limited in Harare, with many people shopping at street markets, catching mini-buses to work or lining up outside banks as normal. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

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Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed to President Mugabe, fled to South Africa following his dismissal
