Harare - Zimbabwe's top general said on Monday he was encouraged by contact between President Robert Mugabe and former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking two weeks ago triggered a coup.
In remarks made on the state broadcaster, General Constantino Chiwenga said Mnangagwa would be back in the country soon and hold talks with Mugabe, adding that the army was confident its intervention code named "Operation Restore Legacy" was progressing well.
Mnangagwa was recently reinstated by Zanu-PF's Central Commitee.
Operation Restore Legacy refers to the process that has seen Mugabe held up in his own home.
Speaking to the media, Chiwenga read from a carefully drafted statement and did not take questions afterwards.
Chiwenga, with by top army brass, speaks about the way forward in resolving the #Zimbabwe issue. @ReporterStar @IOL pic.twitter.com/F73BQCplNs
— Botho Molosankwe (@Mizzyb1) November 20, 2017
Not even one of the people surrounding him uttered a word.
Chiwenga thanked those who had taken to the streets for protesting in a peaceful manner.
He also confirmed that they had met with Mugabe and that the meetings were of mutual respect.
He said several guarantees had been made but did not elaborate on what those guarantees were.
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"We remain seized with the operation code named "Operation Restore Legacy. We are confident to take our beloved country out of it's present circumstances and set it on the desired developmental trajectory."
Chiwenga also said they had made "further consultation" with Mugabe following his address to the nation to agree on a roadmap "on the prevailing situation in the country".
Chiwenga also said Mugabe has started the process towards definitive solitution and roadmap for Zimbabwe.
"As this happens, we urge Zimbabweans to remain calm.
"Students various insitutions are encouraged to proceed with the with their education. They need to remember that one day of education lost is difficult to recorver."
"We remain a people's force and security services which is why uppermost on our mind is the conclusion of this whole operation with the minimu inconvinience and certainly without any collateral loss of life, industry or destruction of property.
Chiwenga's address comes after Zanu-PF said it had laid charges against the embattled statesman.
Zanu-PF deputy secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said one of the main charges is that Mugabe is letting his wife usurp executive constitutional powers when she has no right and she has been lambasting sworn-in government officials in public,” he said.
“The other charge is that the President refused to implement Chapter 14 of the Constitution, which speaks about provincial councils. Elections were conducted but no one was put into office. He violated the Constitution," he said.
Additional reporting by Reuters