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Zimbabwe takeover: Five things you should know

As the world waits to see what happens next
after Robert Mugabe refused to resign despite
pressure from the army and the ruling Zanu-PF
party, we look at some of the key things you
should know about the country and its current
situation.

1. The economy is in a mess
Zimbabwe has gone from one economic crisis to
another over the last decade. Estimates of the
country's unemployment levels vary, but the
country's biggest trade union claims the jobless
rate was as high as 90% earlier this year .
Zimbabwe has struggled with hyperinflation,
which peaked in 2008 with an official rate of 231
million per cent. The country was forced to
abandon its own currency at a rate of Z$35
quadrillion to US$1 , adopting the use of foreign
cash.
Because of a continuing chronic shortage of hard
money, the government issued their own version
of dollars called bond notes, but they have
rapidly lost their value.
People with money stored electronically in banks
are unable to access it, or are subject to strict
limits on what they can withdraw. Because of
this, crypto-currencies that are traded online
have risen in popularity. Following the news of
the military takeover, Bitcoin prices in Harare
surged on Wednesday.

2. Mugabe has been controversial for
some time
The 93-year-old leader has confounded his critics
by staying in power for so long. Sometimes
dismissed as a cartoon figure abroad, he was
viewed in Zimbabwe, at least originally, as a
revolutionary hero who fought against white
minority rule, and still enjoys respect as the
"father of the nation" .
But he and his supporters have used violence to
keep a tight grip on power, using the machinery
of the state to bolster his party and himself.
His party says it is fighting capitalism and
colonialism, but the country's economic
problems have tested even his most ardent
supporters.
He has often said he would only step down when
his "revolution" was complete, but also wants to
handpick his successor - something that led to
the current crisis.
Robert Mugabe - Revolutionary hero or the man
who wrecked Zimbabwe?

3. His unpopular wife caused his downfall
Aged 93 and in visible decline, the battle to
succeed him intensified in recent months.
The ruling party split into two factions - one
backing his wife Grace, 40 years his junior, and
the other his long-time ally, Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
When he sacked Mr Mnangagwa, it was obvious
that he was backing his wife to take power.
She was deeply unpopular, partly because of her
love of shopping, which led to her nickname
"Gucci Grace".
Mr Mnangagwa fought in the 1970s war of
independence which brought Mr Mugabe to
power and retains close ties with many other
former comrades, who occupy senior positions
across the top of all of Zimbabwe's security
forces.
So when he was ousted, they intervened on his
behalf.

4. Any new leader may not be a big
change
If the ousted Mr Mnangagwa does succeed Mr
Mugabe as president, he is cut from the same
cloth.
He has featured prominently in all of the
atrocities and attacks on opposition supporters
which have been carried out since Mr Mugabe
came to power.
However, he has hinted that he may introduce
some economic reforms, and even work with the
opposition in some form of transitional
government.
Emmerson Mnangagwa: The 'crocodile' who
snapped back

5. Was it a coup or not?
The military certainly intervened, however they
have not replaced the president - yet.
In a statement on television, the military said it
had temporarily taken control to "target
criminals" around the head of state, not Mr
Mugabe himself, and still referred to him as
"commander-in-chief".
The army wants a veneer of constitutionality to
be preserved, and certainly none of his former
comrades wants to arrest him, or worse, as
often happens to leaders when the military takes
over.
The army wants a political process to play out -
Mr Mugabe to resign and Zanu-PF to name a
new leader.
And the military encouraged a public march to
increase pressure on him, and show that their
actions had the popular support.
So far, however, he is refusing to play ball, even
though the ruling Zanu-PF party has sacked him
as its leader, and so parliament may have to
impeach him.
However, on Sunday, Mr Mugabe vowed to
remain as president until the Zanu-PF congress,
due in December, so it is far from clear what
happens next.

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