THE People’s Republic of China yesterday said there were no
discussions about a military takeover of government when Zimbabwe Defence
Forces commander, Constantino Chiwenga visited the Asian country last week.
The statement by the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs
dispelled rumours for a Chinese backed transition in the country.
Chiwenga was in China last week, where he met Chinese
defence minister, Chang Wanquan, the same period when, back in Zimbabwe, Harare
slipped into turmoil after President Robert Mugabe fired his deputy, Emmerson
Mnangagwa following a fallout over the 93-yer old president’s succession.
Chinese defence ministry pictures showed Chiwenga and the
Chinese minister in military uniform, shaking hands.
Other officers from both countries sat opposite each other,
holding a meeting at the People’s Liberation Army headquarters in the Chinese
capital, Beijing.
A few hours after the Zimbabwe Defence Forces took control
of the national broadcaster and announced plans “to restore normalcy” in the
country. China said it had held normal meetings with Chiwenga.
China is one of only a few major countries still
maintaining close diplomatic ties with President Robert Mugabe’s regime.
The world’s second largest economy said it was closely
watching the unfolding situation in the country and called upon authorities in
Zimbabwe to “properly handle their internal affairs”, according to a report by
The Guardian, a major publication in the United Kingdom.
It quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang,
as saying the meeting was a normal military exchange, where Wanquan “later
expressed a willingness to promote relations with Zimbabwe”.
Shuang said Chiwenga had not briefed China on plans to
seize power.
“I can only tell you that his visit to China this time was
a normal military exchange, mutually agreed upon by China and Zimbabwe,” Shuang
was quoted as saying during a daily media briefing in Beijing.
“As a country that is friendly with Zimbabwe, we are paying
close attention to developments of the situation in Zimbabwe. Maintaining
peaceful and stable development accords with the fundamental interests of
Zimbabwe and regional countries, and is the common desire of the international
community. We hope the relevant parties in Zimbabwe appropriately handle their
internal matters,” the Chinese minister was quoted as saying.
The intervention by the military, which maintains it has
not taken over government comes amid a bitter battle between a group of ruling
party politicians, led by Mugabe’s wife Grace, and another group aligned to the
fired Mnangagwa over who will succeed Mugabe, who turns 94 years in February,
and has ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years.
Mnangagwa, a former spy chief with strong support within
Zimbabwe’s armed forces, was unceremoniously fired last week.
His fallout with Mugabe, who accused him of attempting to
usurp power, dramatically opened the road to power for Grace, who had recently
hinted at succeeding her husband.
The country’s Finance Minister, Ignatius Chombo, who is a
key member of Grace’s G40 faction, was said to be among at least three Cabinet
ministers detained in the surprise military crackdown early yesterday.
The military insisted its action was not a coup, saying “as
soon as our mission is accomplished the situation will come to normalcy”.
“We urge you to remain calm and limit unnecessary movement.
However, we encourage those who are employed and those with essential business
in the city to continue their normal activities as usual,” said the military.
Financial Gazette
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