EXCLUSIVE – Dens of the despots: The rarely photographed homes of Zimbabwe’s brutal leaders reveal the luxury they live in as the country wallows in poverty

Pictured for the first time since the army seized power, this is the £7.5million Blue Roof mansion where Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe has been held under house arrest since Tuesday.

The 93-year-old was permitted to leave for the first time today in order to officiate at a graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University, where he was filmed apparently falling asleep. After the event, his motorcade took him directly back to his mansion.

The luxurious Blue Roof property has rarely been pictured on account of Zimbabwe’s draconian penalties for those taking photographs of the presidential home.

Set in extensive grounds, the property boasts 25 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and spas, massive reception rooms and a suite of offices.

MailOnline’s exclusive pictures clearly show the iconic blue roofs after which the property was named. It is understood to be three times bigger than Mr Mugabe’s official residence, the State House.

The mansion is located in a suburb of Harare called Borrowdale, Zimbabwe’s most exclusive postcode. Originally built to house the ruling white elite during the colonial era, it is now home to Zimbabwe’s leadership – both those loyal to Mr Mugabe and those who oppose him.

Less than two miles away, MailOnline pictured the secretive home of Emmerson ‘Crocodile’ Mnangagwa, 75, the sacked vice-president who is widely tipped to take over as president if Mr Mugabe finally steps down.

Screened from the street by extensive trees and foliage, high walls and a guard hut manned by police, this could soon become the mansion from which Zimbabwe’s new ruler governs the country.

A white iron fence and a distinctive row of black-and-white stones marked out the boundary of the property. Officers in blue uniforms were on high alert behind the gate.

MailOnline also photographed the nearby palatial home of General Constantino Chiwenga, the commander of Zimbabwe’s armed forces, who has been spearheading the recent takeover.

Located just down the road from both Blue Roof and Mr Mnangagwa’s home, the general’s white mansion, which is built on modernist design principles and sits on the crest of a hill, dominates the area.

Augustine Chihuri, Zimbabwe’s chief of police, also has a luxury home in Borrowdale. He was arrested on Tuesday night as part of the takeover by the army. The close proximity of all of these properties underscores how power in Zimbabwe is held by a small and hugely influential elite.

It comes as speculation continues to mount as to the future of the country as Mr Mugabe continues to resist efforts to persuade him to step down.

The two main demands made by the generals were that ‘Gucci’ Grace Mugabe, the president’s controversial wife, must leave politics immediately and Mr Mnangagwa, who was recently sacked as vice president, be reinstated.

In return, army leaders said they were willing to allow Mr Mugabe to continue in his role as leader until the Zanu-PF congress in December, where he would step down and allow Mr Mnangagwa to take his place.

Mr Mugabe is understood to have refused, however, complaining that the list of demands was ‘too long’. Instead, he made a set of counter-demands.

Top of his list was the immediate release of the finance minister Ignatius Chombo and other officials who were dramatically arrested in the takeover. He also asked that he and his family be assured protection if he were to resign.

The atmosphere of the talks was described as ‘filled with animosity’ by sources in Zimbabwe, with neither side willing to back down, leading to fears that the stalemate would harm the normal running of the country.

It came as the ruling Zanu-PF party called for a ‘gratitude and appreciation march’ through Harare to support the Zimbabwe Defence Forces tomorrow.