President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has sacked his vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa. He announced the sacking through the Minister of Information Simon Khaya Moyo. Moyo told a press conference of journalists in Harare that Mnangagwa had been removed from his post.
The reasons given for his dismissal were deceitfulness, disrespect and disloyalty.
Observers see the sacking as a result of rivalry between Grace Mugabe (the first lady) and Mnangagwa, both contenders for succession of Mugabe. In August, Mnangagwa said he had been poisoned by rivals and his supporters claimed Grace Mugabe was culpable. She denied the claims on national television in Harare.
On Saturday, Grace Mugabe accused Mnangagwa of being the source of division in the ruling Zanu-PF party. She warned his supporters that she could easily become vice-president because she was a bonafide member of the party.
“What if I get in [as vice-president]? What’s wrong with that? Am I not in the party? If people know that I work hard and they want to work with me, what is wrong with that?” Grace Mugabe said.
Her remarks were interpreted to prepare the country for her appointment, which would put her in the second in line for succession for Mugabe.
