LIVE: Military coup underway in Zimbabwe

At least 3 explosions have been heard in Harare following the takeover of the ZBC by the army.

It's strange though that ZBC has been playing music only and no 11PM news https://t.co/K8SpxHOcOo

— Zim Media Review (@ZimMediaReview) November 14, 2017

BREAKING- JUNTA has taken over Programming at ZTV as I speak

— Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 14, 2017

Shocking how this coup fake news is travelling so fast...relax people we are not yet there and we don't want that either..We want peace

— Elias Mambo (@elias_mambo) November 14, 2017

I am in Harare CBD & It's business as usual. Let us spread accurate stories. But ngavabayane stereki. They are all criminals...all of them.

— Patson Dzamara (@DrPatson) November 14, 2017

#Zimbabwe On location Harare CBD, situation on the ground is tense but calm. Rumors circulating on Social media that the army has taken over is false & meant to cause unnecessary panic to the public #Twimbos

— #Register2Vote (@NMkapikoh) November 14, 2017

eNCA is quoting sources in Harare as saying that the visibility of army tanks is an indication that this is a "show of force" by the Zimbabwean army and not a coup, as yet.

President Robert Mugabe's famous ‘blue house' or ‘blue roof' has been sealed off by heavily armed military personnel, Khuluma Afrika has confirmed.

Whilst reports on social media seem to imply that a coup is underway, Khuluma Afrika understands that military presence has been increased there to improve security in the face of growing uncertainty in the country.

President Mugabe however is not at the house as we speak, and Khuluma Afrika was able to confirm that his motorcade is still at his Munhumutapa offices in the capital.

Additional army units as well as secret service personnel have been dispatched to the offices as well.

Khuluma Afrika has been told that the cordoning of ZBC premises is inline with these security measures.

Historically President Mugabe is generally afraid, and interprets any show of defiance as risk of a possible coup and has in the past tightened his personal security over simple things like social media dissent, or strikes by workers.

Fears of some sort of revolt grew over the last few hours after several army tanks were spotted headed for the capital, and major arteries out of Harare were closed.

Some Harare residents reported told News24 that some uniformed soldiers were deployed in street corners all day Tuesday.

There are report on social media of army outside the state-owned broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)

Zimbabwe is facing a political crisis with the ruling Zanu-PF party, as a very public showdown over who is likely to succeed President Robert Mugabe plays out.

The current standoff is between the Youth faction, loyal to his wife, Grace Mugabe, and the former liberation fighters, loyal to Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice president who was fired last week.

Here is what AP is reporting:

Harare - Zimbabwe is on edge as army tanks are seen outside the capital a day after the army commander threatened to "step in" to calm political tensions over the president's firing of his deputy.

The Associated Press saw three tanks with several soldiers in a convoy on a road heading toward an army barracks just outside the capital, Harare.

While it is routine for tanks to move along that route, Tuesday's timing heightens unease in this country that for the first time is seeing an open rift between the military and 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe last week fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and accused him of plotting to take power.

Over 100 senior officials allegedly backing Mnangagwa have been listed for disciplinary measures by a faction associated with Mugabe's wife.

A journalist in Harare says that "it seems the army is angry". He says the situation is a bit "tense" in the capital.

Tank convoy seen outside Zimbabwe capital Harare: witness to Media pic.twitter.com/p7i4DqQkxY

— Francisco A.González (@FcoAGonzalez) November 14, 2017

More LIVE photos of military taking over Zimbabwe's capital Harare after Army Chief vowed to stop Mugabe purge! #ZimbabweCoup pic.twitter.com/uaAWMgBImJ

— Daniel Maithya 🇰🇪 (@DanielMaithyaKE) November 14, 2017

State media in Harare sends workers home!

Reuters reports that four tanks were seen heading toward the Zimbabwe capital Harare on Tuesday, witnesses said, a day after the head of the armed forces said he was prepared to “step in” to end a purge of supporters of ousted vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The report says that two other tanks were seen parked beside the main road from Harare to Chinhoyi, about 20km from the city.

One of the tanks, which was pointed in the direction of the capital, had come off its tracks. Soldiers, however, refused to talk to journalists, the report says.

Earlier on Tuesday, Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF youths said they were "prepared to die" in defence of President Mugabe's government.

In a statement on Tuesday, Zanu-PF's secretary of the youth league Kudzai Chipanga said that Zanu-PF youths did not take lightly the military's threats.

"We as Zanu-PF youth league are a lion which has awakened and found its voice, therefore we will not sit idly and fold our hands whilst cheap potshots and threats are made against Mugabe," Chipanga said.

BREAKING: #Zimbabwe, fears of a military take over barely a week after Pres #Mugabe sacked longtime confidant #VPMnangagwa #Details 2 follow pic.twitter.com/DzbquMetI9

— The Kampala Post (@KampalaPost) November 14, 2017

Mugabe's security soldiers blocked pic.twitter.com/FNEysRCAVv

— Nkosi (@mzwazwa) November 14, 2017

Another video of military tanks on the move in Zimbabwe. In this one, someone says “the army are backing Mnangagwa” in Shona at the end of the video. pic.twitter.com/kpeY6TOdey

— Doug Coltart ✊🏽🇿🇼 (@DougColtart) November 14, 2017

@johnmaytham I got this https://t.co/7VrkyaUaFr

— Vaeron (@vaerospace) November 14, 2017

#Zimbabwe - Four tanks were seen heading toward the capital Harare today, a day after the head of the armed forces said he was prepared to “step in” to end a purge of supporters of ousted vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa

— Ruud Wedding (@RuudWedding) November 14, 2017

Army tankers were on Tuesday seen headed to Harare

Said Chiwenga: "The current purging and cleansing process in Zanu-PF which so far is targeting mostly members associated with our liberation history is a serious cause for concern for us in the defense forces"

He added: "We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in. The current purging of which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith."

Chiwenga on Monday demanded a "stop" to the purges in the ruling Zanu-PF party following the sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chiwenga criticised the instability in the revolutionary party.He accused the party of expelling senior officials who participated in the 1970s war against white-minority ruled Rhodesia; saying "counter revolutionaries" were plotting to destroy the party.