Zuma's Special Envoys Land in zimbabwe for Talks in Midst of ‘Coup’

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. (Photo: Sandf file)

Harare, MINA – President of South Africa Jacob Zuma’s special envoys to Zimbabwe arrived in Harare on Wednesday evening for talks with embattled President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF).

Zuma send Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo left the Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria at 6pm and landed shortly after 7.30pm, Times Live was quoted by MINA as reporting.

Zuma dispatched them in his capacity as chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The pair have been tasked with holding talks with the besieged 93-year-old leader and Zimbabwean army generals‚ who have so far denied their military takeover on Wednesday morning was a coup.

There has been no word on what time the meetings were planned to start.

Zimbabwe’s military seized power on Wednesday‚ saying it was holding Mugabe and his family safe while targeting “criminals” around him.

A statement issued by the SADC said Zuma had called for a meeting of the SADC Organ Troika and the chairman of the SADC Council of Ministers to discuss the unfolding political and security situation in Zimbabwe.

The meeting is expected to be held in Gaborone‚ Botswana‚ on Thursday. (T/RI-1/RS%)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)