Emmerson Mnangagwa has been fired as Zimbabwe’s Vice President by President Robert Mugabe, Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo said on Monday.
Mnangagwa who has been seen as a favourite to succeed the 93-year-old leader was fired because he had exhibited traits of disloyalty, disrespect and deceitfulness.
The 75-year-old, Mnangagwa has been under sustained public attack by President Robert and his wife Mugabe with the veteran leader threatening in an angry Saturday rant to fire him.
Supporters of Mugabe’s wife, Grace, who has also been touted as a potential successor to her husband, have also heavily criticized him. On Sunday, Grace had claimed that Mnangagwa tried to stage a coup in 1980 in a bid to take over as the country’s first post-independence leader.
Mnangagwa has denied allegations that he is trying to illegally remove the 93-year-old Mugabe from power.
