News at the hour

Harare, Zimbabwe - The capital of Zimbabwe finds itself torn between excitement and uncertainty as it dawns on residents that President Robert Mugabe may be, just may be, leaving office after 37 tumultuous years. The mood is a major shift from the typical way of life in Harare: people here avoid discussing sensitive political matters in public due to a history of repression by the government of critical voices. But amid rising discontent in recent years, the military's surprise takeover appeared to give a new impetus to the dissatisfied voices on the streets. "If this pulls through, we will regard this in future as a 'second Independence Day', after that of April 18, 1980," Tineyi Chimwanda, who identified himself as a local businessman, said. Advertisement "This is how it feels." 'Pleasing development' In power since 1980, Mugabe led Zimbabwe's fight for independence in the 1970s. Yet, the 93-year-old's rule has often been criticised for intolerance of dissent and economic mismanagement, and many Zimbabweans - mostly urban - blame him today for the country's sociopolitical woes, including rampant unemployment, widespread poverty and acute cash shortages. In the early hours of Wednesday, the Zimbabwean army, which has previously been used as a way to suppress dissent, placed him under "house arrest". A broadcast by military spokesman Sibusiso Moyo, announcing the army's seizure of power, was repeatedly aired on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's sole TV channel - for years a mouthpiece of Mugabe and his close associates. Moyo's words were cheered by a group of restaurant customers during lunch time in central Harare. The military, though, denies it is staging a coup, saying its move is meant to deal with "criminals" within Mugabe's circles. The president and his family, the army said, were "safe and sound". The statement, however, was seen as careful attempt by the military to keep the situation under control and ensure a bloodless transition from Mugabe's rule. Those few who reported for duty on Wednesday followed the proceedings on state TV from workplaces and pubs. "I'm a junior intelligence officer, I can tell you most us are pleased by this development," said a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation, Zimbabwe's dreaded spy agency. "Only the senior guys, our bosses, who benefit from the oppressive system, will not be happy with this." Uncertain future The army's action is believed to have been triggered by the sacking of Emmerson Mnangagwa, a war veteran, as vice president. His dismissal came after months of a power struggle within Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party about a possible successor of Mugabe. On Monday, army commander Contantino Chiwenga gave warning that the military would not "hesitate to step in" if what he called the purge of former independence war fighters at ZANU-PF continued. Mnangagwa, an ally of Chiwenga, leads a party faction that is at loggerheads with another led by Mugabe's wife, Grace, and some younger membered of the party. Speculation is that Mnagangwa, who fled from Zimbabwe after his sacking, will return home to lead a transitional government following Wednesday's events. As the day wore on, residents of Harare could be heard discussing the sudden turn of events with excitement and anticipation. Few, though, were ready to view the developments as "the end of Mugabe". "End of Mugabe? No, hard to believe. Too good to be true," said Daniel Mkwananzi, an accountant. "I feel the old man will fulfil his ambition of dying in office."