Interesting. Couldn’t happen to a finer country nor a thuggier thug.

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s ruling party accused the head of the armed forces of treason on Tuesday as troops took up positions around the capital in an escalation of a dispute with 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe over political succession.

Just 24 hours after military chief General Constantino Chiwenga threatened to intervene to end a purge in the ruling party, a Reuters reporter saw six armored personnel carriers on major thoroughfares on the outskirts of the capital.

Aggressive soldiers directing traffic told passing cars to keep moving through the darkness.

“Don’t try anything funny. Just go,” one soldier said on Harare Drive.

The presence of troops, including the movement of at least six armored personnel carriers from a barracks northwest of Harare, sparked rumors of coup against Mugabe, although there was no evidence to suggest Zimbabwe’s leader of the last 37 years had been toppled.

The lead item on the ZBC state broadcaster’s evening news bulletin was an anti-military rally by the youth wing of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party.

The Southern African nation has been on edge since Monday when Chiwenga, Commander of Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said he was prepared to “step in” to end a purge of supporters of a sacked vice president.

The unprecedented statement represents an escalation of a rumbling political struggle over who will succeed Mugabe, who has been in power since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980.

Those things run on diesel. Who knew they had any left? REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo.

I know some (mostly idiot coastal academics) hold modern Rhodesia Zimbabwe and Mugabe in high esteem for Mugabe’s agricultural “reforms,” tolerant, open, and honest governance, and economic stabilization. I simply detest the senile bastard and weep for what the people lost (or gave away … took … whatever).

A week or so back I had drafted a comedy piece of sorts about Mugabe, based on his recent handling of a certain American college student (whose professors probably adore the warlord in chief). It needs a little tweaking but it’s pretty good. Coming soon! Yes, and if this rumor turns out true, I could perhaps append a very happy ending – maybe with a picture of Mugabe on a pike or the gallows or something.

Hope springs eternal.