As more prominent military figures were nabbed, Central Intelligence Organisation director Albert Miles Nguluvhe was released on Thursday.

A senior military official said Nguluvhe was free to go because he was not a member of Grace Mugabe’s G40 faction but added that the official reason for his arrest was to “alienate him” from the president.

Meanwhile, the pursuit of President Robert Mugabe’s perceived allies by the country’s security forces following their seizure of power on Wednesday morning continued yesterday, with the arrest of more Cabinet ministers and government officials.

Unconfirmed reports yesterday suggested that the army had also arrested police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri and Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Paul Chimedza. Higher Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa, Paddy Zhanda and Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Webster Shamhu were detained for about five hours before they were arrested.

The first batch of Cabinet minister to be taken into the custody by Defence Forces-led military include Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, High Education minister Jonathan Moyo and Local Governance minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

Kudzai Chipanga was also arrested.