Despite heavy gunfire and the military essentially taking President Robert Muagbe hostage, Zimbabweans living in New Zealand say they're not worried.
Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe and wife Grace Mugabe at the ruling party's headquarters last week. Photo: AFP
The military took over the state broadcaster ZBC yesterday - saying the president was safe but that it is targeting criminals around him that are causing social and economic suffering.
It said it was not a military takeover of government. Instead, the army wanted to deal with people who "were committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country".
"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."
New Zealanders in the Zimbabwe are being advised to stay indoors in a safe place, and keep themselves informed of developments.
There are currently 13 New Zealanders registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being in Zimbabwe.
It said its travel advice to Zimbabwe has not changed but advises caution.
New Zealanders should avoid all demonstrations, rallies and large public gatherings or any activity which could be construed as political, it said.
Former Zimbabwean High Court Judge Benjamin Paradza fled to New Zealand as a refugee in 2006 after acquitting an opposition politician.
He said most of the community here would be hoping 93-year-old Mr Mugabe, who has ruled the country since 1987, would be overthrown.
"The military said it's not it a coup but it's all very confusing. By what they were saying on ZBC, it sounds like they want to get rid of some of the people in Mugabe's inner circles who they think are making some of the key decisions now he is elderly.
"They're saying it's not a military take-over, but that's what it looks like so there is a lot of confusion amongst Zimbabweans in New Zealand to what is actually going on," Mr Paradza said.
He said there was always the possibility the military was trying to give the impression that all is well, while they actually have other plans.
"It's all to do with the succession of Mugabe, it's become very clear that Mugabe has been paving the way for his wife to take over, they started by removing the vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa last week.
"His wife Grace shouldn't take over, she's not qualified.
"Just a few months ago she beat a girl in South Africa with a shoe. It's not a good look for the first lady," he said.
Mr Paradza said the Zimbabwean community in New Zealand was waiting and watching to see what unfolded over the next few days.
Peter Heath, who moved to New Zealand in 1993, said he believed the military was simply showing its power to a group of younger politicians within the government called G40.
Mr Mugabe's wife Grace is set to succeed her husband after the vice president was sacked last week. Her succession is something G40 supports.
Mr Heath said the military does not want her in power, and most of the country loathes her.
"I think a lot of Zimbabweans are of the view that if this little escapade by the generals results in the disappearance of a certain lady of high stature to a neighbouring country, then this might not be such a bad thing."
Mr Heath said the military would either keep Mr Mugabe in power and scare his wife off, or put another leader in place who would agree to its demands.
He said people in Zimbabwe who he has spoken to were not worried about a coup or about violence escalating.
"There's no panic, my friend over there was told by the military to just keep business going as usual so that's what he's doing."
Mr Heath believes there will be instability for weeks, while the military stakes its power and control over the government again.
