ZIMBABWE’S armed forces insisted yesterday that there was "no violation of constitutional processes" in their nine-day-old coup against former president Robert Mugabe.

That followed Wednesday night’s admission by his anointed successor, sacked vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, that he had been in contact with the top brass “throughout” the takeover.

A statement from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) said that it looked forward to a "massive gathering" for Mr Mnangagwa’s inauguration as president today.