A coup or not a coup : that is the question in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The November 2017 military intervention in Zimbabwe attracted global attention. The intervention culminated in the resignation of long-time leader, President Robert Mugabe, and his replacement by his former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Internally, the military action was received with approval, while externally, the international society called for calm while tacitly accepting the intervention which normally is contrary to regional and international norms. This paper argues that the so-called military intervention in Zimbabwe was a coup. The paper notes that the international community welcomed the new dispensation in Zimbabwe based on their vested interests and not international relations and security norms and ethics. The conclusions were made from data collected from a keen following of events on various media, academic articles and interactions with Zimbabweans.