The armoured vehicles spotted outside Harare also alarmed residents as Chiwenga had warned of possible military intervention. "Chiwenga threw down the gauntlet to Mugabe... it would make sense for Chiwenga to organise some military manoeuvres to up the ante. Some of the army top brass are seen as strongly opposed to Grace Mugabe's apparent emergence as the likely next president. Speculation has been rife in Harare that Mugabe could seek to remove Chiwenga, who is seen as an ally of ousted Mnangagwa. OMINOUS MOMENTThe crisis marks an "ominous moment in the ongoing race to succeed" Mugabe, said political analyst Alex Magaisa in an online article.

Source: Daily Nation November 15, 2017 02:56 UTC