Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, has appointed justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as the country's first vice-president, placing him in poll position to succeed the 90-year-old leader.
The announcement on Wednesday came two days after Mr Mugabe sacked first vice-president Joyce Mujuru for allegedly plotting to oust him as Zanu-PF president in the run-up to the ruling party's elective conference last week.
Mr Mugabe also named former diplomat Phelekezela Mphoko in the largely symbolic post of second vice-president.
“There are two vice-presidents. From the former Zanu, we have Emmerson Mnangagwa,” Mr Mugabe said. “We say congratulations to him.”
Mr Mnangagwa’s appointment is seen as a comeback against the odds by many observers, as in 2004 he was sidelined by Mr Mugabe, who fired him as the secretary for administration in Zanu-PF after he was accused of angling for the party’s top job. Nicknamed “Ngwena” (“The Crocodile”) because of his reputation for ruthlessness, Mr Mnangagwa played a central role in Mr Mugabe’s crackdown on opposition supporters that left thousands dead in the 1980s.
He has also held numerous security-related positions in government over the years and is known as a party hardliner who supports Mr Mugabe’s anti-western position.
Ms Mujuru, who was sacked along with eight other ministers loyal to her, has vowed to remain a member of Zanu-PF, saying the movement is the only political home she knows.
Zimbabwean daily newspaper NewsDay quoted her on Wednesday as saying it was too early to know what to do next about challenging her removal, but she suggested taking on Mr Mugabe was not on the cards.
Purge
Ms Mujuru had been removed a week ago from her position as Zanu-PF vice-president, ahead of her dismissal as the country’s vice-president on Monday, completing Mr Mugabe’s purge of his former ally and her supporters. Analysts believe she was targeted because of her popularity within the movement, which could make her a threat to Mr Mugabe’s continued reign.
Trouble began brewing for the former party heavyweight last September when Grace Mugabe, the president's wife, started criticising Ms Mujuru's performance over the past few years and questioning her loyalty to Mr Mugabe.
Ms Mugabe (49), who had never officially been involved in Zimbabwean politics before, was appointed leader of the Zanu-PF Women’s League last week after she was nominated unopposed for the position in September.
Ms Mujuru maintained her silence in relation to the accusations levelled at her, but on Tuesday, in a statement released to the media, she criticised those pointing fingers at her and claimed she was a victim of a smear campaign.She went on to blame the attacks on a group within Zanu-PF with “nefarious intent”.
“The allegations that I, alone or together with various distinguished comrades, have sought to remove His Excellency RG Mugabe from office are ridiculous,” Ms Mujuru said.
Mr Mugabe, who has fermented the factionalism within his own party by refusing to indicate his preferred heir to lead the movement, declined to name the two party vice-presidents last weekend.
