The coup was planned to be executed in December, ahead of the Zanu-PF special congress, but had to be brought forward when vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa was axed. 

Sunday newspaper City Press reports that the military, political players and diplomats had been hatching the plan for some time in order to prevent the ascendancy at the congress of the G40 faction of Zanu-PF. 

Its figurehead is First Lady Grace Mugabe. 

Several governments in the region and abroad had been made aware of the plan and had no objection. 

They insisted that there be no bloodshed and that the overthrow should not be characterised as a coup.

Mnangagwa’s axing from the Zanu-PF leadership and his government position was meant to pave the way for Grace to succeed Mugabe. But it had the opposite effect, speeding up her own demise and ending her husband’s 37-year rule.

News24