美国有线新闻 CNN 津巴布韦总统被软禁 军方否认政变（在线收听）

Our show begins in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe got its independence from the United Kingdom in 1980, and since then, it's been ruled by Robert Mugabe, who was its first prime ministers and he became Zimbabwe's president in 1987. At 93 years old, he's the oldest president on the planet and Africa's longest serving leader. Since he took over, Zimbabwe has seen a number of struggles, some natural, some manmade.

Starting in 1997, President Mugabe implemented a controversial program that took land away from Zimbabwe's white farmers and redistributed it to others. According to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, that crippled Zimbabwe's economy and led to shortages of basic goods. Inflation, when prices rise and money buys less followed, and it was severe.

In 2002, the CIA says President Mugabe rigged the presidential election to make sure he'd win. And in recent years, a drought set in, making things worse and leading the food shortages for millions for people. Seventy-two percent of Zimbabweans live below the poverty line.

Now, Mugabe's rule could be coming to an end. The country's military has taken control of the capital, Harare. Witnesses there saying military vehicles are everywhere, but that the atmosphere is generally calm. Mugabe himself is under house arrest.

Ten days ago, he fired his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. He was expected to become the country's next leader, but President Mugabe accused Vice President Mnangagwa of, quote, disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability. Zimbabwe has an election scheduled next year and many people there think that firing the vice president, Mr. Mugabe is trying to clear the way for his wife, Grace Mugabe, to take over when the current leader either dies or retires.

But the first lady and the vice president are controversial. But while Grace Mugabe has the support of many young people, in Robert Mugabe's political party, Emmerson Mnangagwa likely has the support of the military. It says this is not a coup. That it's not taking control of the government, but that it's, quote, targeting criminals around Mugabe. But experts say this maybe intended to prevent Grace Mugabe from becoming Zimbabwe's next leader.