2007 Zimbabwean coup d'état attempt
Encyclopedia
The Zimbabwe
an government foiled an alleged coup d'état attempt involving almost 400 soldiers and high-ranking members of the military that would have occurred on June 2 or June 15, 2007. The alleged leaders of the coup, all of whom have been arrested and charged with treason
, are retired army Captain Albert Matapo, Spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Army
Ben Ncube
, Major General Engelbert Rugeje
, and Air Vice Marshall Elson Moyo
.
According to the government the soldiers planned on forcibly removing President Robert Mugabe
from office and asking Rural Housing Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa
to form a government with the heads of the armed forces. The government first heard of the plot when a former army officer who opposed the coup contacted the police in Paris
, France
, giving them a map and a list of those involved. Mnangagwa and State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa
both said they did not know about the plot, Mnangagwa calling it "stupid."
Some analysts have speculated that rival successors to Mugabe, such as former Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
leader Solomon Mujuru
, may be trying to discredit Mnangagwa.
political party in Mashonaland Central
, said he and Matapo were arrested by men whom he suspects work for the Central Intelligence Organization
at 2pm on May 29 in Harare
.
Kagodora said he and Matapo were put in a basement where he believes Military Intelligence Unit officials tortured him, using electrical rods to elicit confessions. Interrogators asked about MDC terror camps in South Africa
, leaders and financiers of the plot, petrol bombers in the MDC, and the Democratic Resistance Committee. On June 1 Kagodora came into the custody of the Law and Order section at Harare Central Police Station. He said he heard interrogators asking Matapo to reveal the names of army and police officers with ties to the coup d'état
. Police released Kagadora on June 4.
According to a military source in Harare, the coup leaders allegedly contacted Western governments and asked them if they would support the coup. "The general feedback was that the western countries would publicly condemn the coup and privately support it only if it would restore democracy in Zimbabwe."
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an government foiled an alleged coup d'état attempt involving almost 400 soldiers and high-ranking members of the military that would have occurred on June 2 or June 15, 2007. The alleged leaders of the coup, all of whom have been arrested and charged with treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, are retired army Captain Albert Matapo, Spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Army
Zimbabwe National Army
The Zimbabwe National Army is the land warfare branch of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000.-History:...
Ben Ncube
Ben Ncube
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Ncube is the spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Army.Mercenaries attempted to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea by departing in a plane from Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe National Army seized the plane on March 9, 2004 before it took off and arrested the mercenaries...
, Major General Engelbert Rugeje
Engelbert Rugeje
Major General Engelbert Rugeje is the Chief of Staff of the Zimbabwe National Army. He was born in Bikita, Charamba Village, he's an heir of the Charamba family who of the Duma clanand educated at Silveira Mission where he excelled before he joined the ZANLA guerrilla freedom fighters at the age of...
, and Air Vice Marshall Elson Moyo
Elson Moyo
Air Vice-Marshal Elson Moyo was a deputy commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and one of the main figures in the 2007 Zimbabwean coup d'état attempt....
.
According to the government the soldiers planned on forcibly removing President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
from office and asking Rural Housing Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa
Emmerson Mnangagwa
Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is a Zimbabwean politician who has been Minister of Defense since February 2009. He was previously Minister of State Security from 1982 to 1988, then Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs until 2000; he was Speaker of Parliament from July 2000 to 2005 and...
to form a government with the heads of the armed forces. The government first heard of the plot when a former army officer who opposed the coup contacted the police in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, giving them a map and a list of those involved. Mnangagwa and State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa
Didymus Mutasa
Didymus Noel Edwin Mutasa is a Zimbabwean politician, currently serving as the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and as the Secretary for Administration of ZANU-PF.-Family background:...
both said they did not know about the plot, Mnangagwa calling it "stupid."
Some analysts have speculated that rival successors to Mugabe, such as former Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army was the military wing of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant African nationalist organization, and participated in the Rhodesian Bush War against Republican Rule in Rhodesia....
leader Solomon Mujuru
Solomon Mujuru
Solomon Mujuru, also known as Rex Nhongo was a Zimbabwean military officer and politician who led Robert Mugabe's guerrilla forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. He was from the Zezuru clan. In post-independence Zimbabwe, he went on to become army chief before leaving government service in 1995...
, may be trying to discredit Mnangagwa.
May arrest
Gilbert Kagodora, treasurer for the Movement for Democratic ChangeMovement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
The Movement for Democratic Change Zimbabwe is a political party and the largest party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. It is the main formation formed from the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005.-Foundation:...
political party in Mashonaland Central
Mashonaland Central
Mashonaland Central is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 28,347 km² and a population of approximately 998,265 , representing about 8.5% of the total Zimbabwe population.- Background :Bindura is the capital of the province...
, said he and Matapo were arrested by men whom he suspects work for the Central Intelligence Organization
Central Intelligence Organization
The Central Intelligence Organisation is the national intelligence agency or "secret police" of Zimbabwe.-History:The CIO was formed in Rhodesia on the instructions of Prime Minister Winston Field in 1963 at the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and took over from the...
at 2pm on May 29 in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
.
Kagodora said he and Matapo were put in a basement where he believes Military Intelligence Unit officials tortured him, using electrical rods to elicit confessions. Interrogators asked about MDC terror camps in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, leaders and financiers of the plot, petrol bombers in the MDC, and the Democratic Resistance Committee. On June 1 Kagodora came into the custody of the Law and Order section at Harare Central Police Station. He said he heard interrogators asking Matapo to reveal the names of army and police officers with ties to the coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. Police released Kagadora on June 4.
Trial
Several men, either on active duty or retired from the Zimbabwe National Army, were arrested between May 29 and early June. They have been present in secret court hearings twice in which family members and journalists were not allowed to attend. The case is now being heard by the High Court. Prosecutors accuse Albert Matapo of leading the coup and trying to "recruit as many soldiers as possible to take over the government and all camps and be in control of the nation after which he will announce to the nation that he was in control of government and would invite Minister Mnangagwa and service chiefs to form a government." Albert Rugowe, formerly an officer in the army, is accused of recruiting military officials for the coup. Captain Shepherd Maromo and Olivine Morale are also on trial.According to a military source in Harare, the coup leaders allegedly contacted Western governments and asked them if they would support the coup. "The general feedback was that the western countries would publicly condemn the coup and privately support it only if it would restore democracy in Zimbabwe."