Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, has reportedly fled the country for neighbouring Namibia.
Her husband is under house arrest in the capital, Harare, after the Zimbabwean military took control of the government.
It is unclear how Ms Mugabe was able to make her escape but Eddie Cross, an MP from the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change, told Independent UK that he understood the First Lady was now in Namibia.
A representative for the ruling Zanu-PF party also said he believed Grace was no longer in Zimbabwe.
In an address to the nation after taking control of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, an army spokesman early Wednesday said the military is targeting “criminals” around Mugabe.
“We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover”, Major-General SB Moyo said.
“We are only targeting criminals around (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice.
“As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy.”
He urged other security forces to “cooperate for the good of our country,” warning that “any provocation will be met with an appropriate response.”
