Mugabe remains under house arrest as Zimbabwe waits on army

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe remains under house arrest in the capital of Harare as citizens of the country wait on the next move of the army.

Military leaders seized control of the country on Wednesday but denied that the action was a coup, and said that Mugabe had been placed under house arrest.

Mugabe’s wife Grace, who had been tipped to succeed the 93-year old leader as President, at 41 years his junior, is reported to not be with her husband.

South African government officials travelled to Harare on Wednesday to facilitate a meeting between the army and political parties in Zimbabwe.

Military troops have secured government offices, the parliament and the country’s main airports while Zimbabwe remains in political symbols.

Army officers said on Wednesday that their action was temporary and did not represent a permanent takeover by the armed forces.

"We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes [...] that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," Major General Sibusiso Moyo said on state broadcaster ZBC.

"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."

A bitter feud has erupted in recent months over who Mugabe’s successor will be, with the longstanding leader reportedly in ill health.

Mugabe has dominated the country’s politics since it became independent from the UK in 1980.