'Chiwenga was supposed to have been arrested last week'

Last week, police wanted to arrest the military chief, General Chiwenga. But today, police boss Chihuri was walking hand-in-hand with Chiwenga at State House. Whichever way you look at it, it's game over for Mugabe.

All security services are now on the same page.

Tensions between the country's security services this week intensified after the police reportedly attempted to arrest military chief General Constantino Chiwenga upon his return from an official visit to China, triggering a coup-like backlash on Wednesday.

Armed soldiers assaulted police officers at Parliament Building in the capital Harare after the army intervened in the Zanu PF succession crisis, holding President Robert Mugabe hostage and seizing some officials.

Security sources said professional relations between the police and the army have in recent months deteriorated, creating a rift between the security services.

A picture of police officers seated on the tarmac in front of Parliament Building went viral on social media on Wednesday.

It is also understood that the military on Wednesday forcibly took control of the Support Unit camp and armoury at Chikurubi near Harare in an apparent show of strength.

The absence of Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri at army headquarters on Monday when Chiwenga ordered Mugabe to stop purges of Zanu PF members mainly linked to ousted vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, the source said, also heightened suspicion between the police and the military.

Chihuri is widely seen as loyal to the G40 faction led by First Lady Grace Mugabe.

Last week, police wanted to arrest the military chief, General Chiwenga. But today, police boss Chihuri was walking hand-in-hand with Chiwenga at State House. Whichever way you look at it, it's game over for Mugabe. All security services are now on the same page.

— Brezh Malaba (@BrezhMalaba) November 19, 2017