Image source, AFP

President Robert Mugabe is "fine", South African leader Jacob Zuma has said.

Mr Zuma spoke to his 93-year-old counterpart, who said he was "confined to his home" but "fine", according to an official statement released by the South African president's office.

He is also in contact with the Zimbabwean Defence Force (ZDF), the statement said.

South Africa is planning on sending an envoy to speak to both sides.

Mr Zuma reiterated his earlier calls for "calm and restraint".

Image source, AFP

Oppostion MP Eddie Cross has told BBC News that he believes First Lady Grace Mugabe has fled to Namibia.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) politician said that he understood she had been allowed to leave the country last night by the army.

He added that her choice of exile had been limited after she allegedly assaulted a model in the South African city of Johannesburg in August.

However, none of this has been officially confirmed by the army.

In his official statement, broadcast earlier on state television, Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo said he could "assure the nation that his excellency the president... and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed".

It has been suggested the first family were all being held together at home in Harare.

Image source, AFP

Jeffrey Moyo, a freelance journalist in Zimbabwe, has just told the BBC’s World Update programme that the military have blocked the main road leading to parliament – Nelson Mandela Avenue.

They have are also stopping traffic on another main road - Samora Michel Avenue – which is near President Robert Mugabe’s office, he says.

The army continues to rebroadcast its message on the state broadcasters (see earlier post), he says.

There are also rumours that sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa might come back for annual Zanu-PF congress in December when he may stand to become the ruling party’s president, the reporter says.

Here is a mid-morning round up of the key points from Zimbabwe, where the army has taken control overnight.

• Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo appeared on state television saying the army had taken control temporarily while they target "criminals around [President Robert Mugabe] who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country"
• The move came after Mr Mugabe sacked his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, , externalin favour of his wife, Grace
• The Mugabes were safe, he added, as he emphasised this was "not a coup"
• A number of arrests have been made, including Zanu-PF youth wing leader and Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo
• There is calm in Harare, despite the presence of troops on the streets.

Read more: Zimbabwe crisis - what we know so far

Queues are forming outside banks in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare:

Image source, EPA

Pictures show people gathering in orderly queues along the pavement, hoping to withdraw money.

This is not an unusual sight in Zimbabwe, which replaced its own currency with US dollars in 2009 after a financial crash caused by hyperinflation.

However, in the last year a shortage of hard cash has left people queuing for hours in order to withdraw their money.

Read more: Why Zimbabweans are spending the night outside banks

Image source, Reuters

Eddie Cross, an MP for the main Movement for Democratic Change opposition party, has told the BBC's Newsday programme that he believes the move by the military is being masterminded by former Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was sacked last week:

Zanu PF's UK representative Nick Mangwana has told the BBC's Newsday programme that President Robert Mugabe is still in charge - but the ruling party, which has been divided over who should succeed the 93-year-old leader, was being "realigned" as a result of the army's action:

Zimbabwe's state-run newspaper, The Herald, has finally posted a story on the events of the last few hours.

Its lead story is now on the army's takeover.

Image source, Herald Newspaper

You can read more about Zimbabwe state media reaction to today's events in these two posts:

• State media broadcasts struggle songs
• Herald 'frozen in time'

Image source, AFP

Today's actions were sparked by a "purge" of officials in Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party, the military has said.

The most powerful victim of these so-called purges was Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was, until just over a week ago, the country's vice-president.

His removal cleared the way for Robert Mugabe's wife Grace to become his new deputy - and the most likely person to succeed him if and when he decides to step down.

She is now believed to being held, along with her husband, at their home in the capital, Harare.

But who is Grace Mugabe, and why is her rise so controversial? Here are a few quick facts:

• Began affair with Robert Mugabe, 41 years her senior, whilst working as a typist in state house
• Mr Mugabe later said his first wife Sally, who was terminally ill at the time, knew and approved of the relationship
• Married Mr Mugabe, her second husband, in 1996 in an extravagant ceremony. They have three children
• Nicknamed "Gucci Grace" by her critics who accuse her of lavish spending
• Along with her husband, is subject to EU and US sanctions, including travel bans
• Controversially received a PhD in September 2014 after just two months
• Appointed head of Zanu-PF women's wing in 2014
• Accused by a South African model of assault in August 2017

Read more: Grace Mugabe and her remarkable rise to power

Image source, Reuters

South African President Jacob Zuma says he is watching the events unfolding in neighbouring Zimbabwe with "great concern".

An official statement released by Mr Zuma's office called on the armed forces "to resolve the political impasse amicably".

In August, South Africa found itself drawn into its own fight involving the Mugabe family, when Grace Mugabe allegedly assaulted a model in a Johannesburg hotel room.

Mrs Mugabe was not prosecuted after Mr Zuma's government gave her diplomatic immunity.

Read more: Saving Grace - the cost of diplomatic immunity.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Sir Nicholas Soames, a veteran UK Conservative MP who last month defended his recent meeting with President Robert Mugabe, has given the BBC's Today programme his views on the situation in Zimbabwe.

His father was the last governor of Rhodesia, and a good friend of Mr Mugabe.

There has been speculation about who is running a Twitter account which purports to be the official handle of the ruling Zanu-PF party. The account, which has not been verified officially, has just tweeted its allegiance is to Emmerson Mnangagwa, the sacked vice-president.

The Foreign Office has urged all British nationals in the capital to remain in the safety of their homes and or accommodation "due to the uncertain political situation".

Those in Harare have also been told to keep away from any sort of political activity as "the authorities have sometimes used force to suppress demonstrations".

Meanwhile, Emily Thornberry, Labour's shadow foreign secretary, has urged the UK government to continue to provide "every assistance necessary" to all British citizens in Zimbabwe.

She added:

For the latest Foreign Office advice on the situation in Zimbabwe, click here, external.

Moses Rono
BBC Monitoring

State broadcasters have been playing patriotic songs from the independence period of the 1980s and re-broadcasting Major-General Sibusiso Moyo’s statement.

Gen Moyo announced on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) TV that the military had seized power and that President Robert Mugabe was safe.

The state radio is relaying the audio feed from the TV.

They are reporting no other news.

Most of the songs are about the war waged by the country's nationalist guerrillas against white-minority rule.

The word Chimurenga, which means revolution in the Shona language, has been repeatedly used in the songs.

The liberation struggle that ended white-minority rule was known as the Second Chimurenga.

The song Nesango, by Clive Malunga, in which the singer paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters, has been repeatedly played by the broadcaster:

One of the songs aired is accompanied by a series of newspaper cuttings on the “chronology of Zimbabwe struggle”.

“The future of Zimbabwe is in our hands. The future is now. Zimbabwe, it is my responsibility,” said the lyrics of a song, with accompanying footage featuring tourism attraction sites, wildlife and schoolchildren.

The songs played are in the Shona and Ndebele local languages.

Image source, AFP

Kudzai Chipanga, the leader of Zanu-PF's youth wing, has been arrested in Harare, a day after he said his supporters were ready to die in the defence of President Robert Mugabe.

The youth wing supports President Mugabe's wife, Grace, as his successor.

Newspaper owner Trevor Ncube tweeted:

Mr Chipanga openly questioned Gen Constantino Chiwenga after the military chief said on Monday that the army was prepared to act to end purges within Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

The youth league leader responded yesterday, saying Gen Chiwenga did not have the support of the entire military.

"We will not sit and fold hands while threats are made against a legitimately-elected government," he warned.

Read more: Zimbabwe crisis - what we know so far

Social media users say the Zimbabwean capital remains calm this morning, despite the army taking control overnight.

Zimbabwe's state newspaper - The Herald - has not updated its website to reflect the developments overnight.

It still has a list of stories which reflect support for President Robert Mugabe.

Its lead story has Zanu-PF youth leader, Kudzai Chipanga, expressing support for Mr Mugabe, saying "we'll defend the president with our lives":

Image source, The Herald

Meanwhile, the paper's Twitter account has announced there will be a special edition of the paper:

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

The military appear to be patrolling the streets of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.

Pictures taken this morning show large armoured vehicles and soldiers appearing to direct - or possibly block - traffic.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

President Robert Mugabe is preparing to step down, a few hours after the Zimbabwean military took over power, a leading South African news website has reported.

"Mugabe 'preparing to step down' - senior source," News24 website posted, without giving any further details.

Political tensions have been rising since President Mugabe recently sacked Emmerson Mnangagwa, a long-time ally, as vice-president.