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President Mugabe dismisses Vice President Mnangagwa, Grace Mugabe eyed as heir

Zimbabwe’s Information Minister, Simon Khaya Moyo, has announced the dismissal of Emmerson Mnangagwa as Vice President on allegations of “traits of disloyalty”.

The dismissal of Mnangagwa, 75, and the potential successor of Robert Mugabe, the 93 year old President and leader of the ruling ZANU-PF party did not however come as a surprise to Zimbabweans.

His removal have further increased the chances and odds that, wife of the President, Grace Mugabe would likely succeed her husband and become the next President of Zimbabwe as she had earlier called her husband to remove the Vice President.

Mnangagwa was a former intelligence Chief and had been the leading candidate to succeed President Mugabe.

Explaining the removal, Information Minister said: “The Vice President has consistently and persistently exhibited traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness and unreliability.

“It had become evident that his conduct in his discharge of his duties had become inconsistent with his official responsibilities.”

Sour Political taste

Mrs Mugabe had earlier called on the ZANU-PF party to expel Mr Mnangagwa, calling him a “coup plotter and a “coward”.

She is also the head of the ZANU-PF women’s league and had been seen as a likely competitor with Mnangagwa to contest the succession of President Mugabe whether he dies or steps down.

While addressing church groups at a rally in Harare, Mrs Mugabe had said “The snake must be hit on the head.

“We must deal with the real snake behind the factions and discord in the party. We are going for the congress as a united party.”

Meanwhile, some powerful Army Generals have backed Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe saying that they will not allow anyone who did not fight in the 1970s Independence war to rule, of which Mugabe’s wife did not fight in the war.

However, the ZANU PF youth league have thrown their weight behind Mrs Mugabe.

“We need someone who is acceptable and with unquestionable loyalty to the party and its principal, the President Comrade RG Mugabe, “The only person possessing such qualities is … the first lady.” said Kudzai Chipanga, ZANU-PF youth league leader.

Mnangagwa who have been a close associate of President Mugabe since 1980 when they gained Independence from Britain, may have fallen from Mugabe’s good books due to the calls to step down from Mnangagwa’s supporters.

The once good friends may have hit the rocks when Mnangagwa’s supporters hinted that the former Vice President had been poisoned by an ice cream from a dairy owned by the Mugabe family.

President Mugabe has been in power since Independence and intends to run for another five year term in office in next year’s Presidential election.

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