Mugabe now kicked out as Zanu-PF leader
What you need to know:
The ruling party instead named ex-vice –president Emmerson Mnangagwa as its new leader in a plot to finally remove Mugabe as the country’s president.
Dar es Salaam. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has been sacked as leader of the ruling party Zanu-PF, it has emerged.
The ruling party instead named ex-vice –president Emmerson Mnangagwa as its new leader in a plot to finally remove Mugabe as the country’s president.
President Mugabe technically remains president but the decision to remove him as Zanu-PF leader leaves him greatly exposed and without any support to cling on.
Mnangagwa who had been fired by Mugabe two weeks ago and briefly went into exile returned amid an intervention by the army which wanted to block Mr Mugabe, 93, from an apparent move to install his wife, Grace, as vice president.
Grace was reportedly eyeing to succeed her husband in the 2018 elections and was accused of antagonizing many former Mugabe allies seen as potential successors of Mugabe who has ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years.
Zanu-PF officials meeting in Harare broke the news of Mugabe’s sacking in several social media accounts, showing delegates dancing on the announcement of the decision. Mrs Mugabe, it was reported, has been expelled from the party altogether.
President Mugabe was expected later today to meet military leaders who have hoped he will step aside voluntarily. However, it looks inevitable now that the final push could lead to an impeachment in the Parliament.
Thousands of Zimbabweans on Saturday held street demonstrations in support of the push to have Mugabe removed as their leader.
