Politics: Mnangagwa's emergence as Zimbabwe's president close, as he replaces Robert Mugabe as ZANU-PF Chairman

Emmerson Mnangagwa has been in Mugabe's government since 1980.

The Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF party, has removed President Robert Mugabe as its chairman and replaced him with his former deputy, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.

According to AFP, a party delegate confirmed this decision on Sunday, November 19, 2017, in Harare after the party's meeting.

“A resolution has been adopted to recall the president and elevate Mnangagwa as the party president,” said the delegate, who declined to be named.

This decision by the party is a stunning reversal of its earlier decisions. On November 9, 2017, the spokesman for the ZANU-PF, Simon Khaya Moyo announced the expulsion of Mnangagwa from the party, four days after he was sacked by Mugabe. However, since the take over of power by the military, Mnangagwa has widely viewed as the next president of the country.

Robert Mugabe has been the country's president since its independence in 1980. After 37 years in power, it is widely speculated that he is planning to hand over power to his wife, Grace Mugabe. This move led to a crack in the ruling party and prompted the military to take control of the government.

Also Read: Robert Mugabe's power-hungry wife, 'Gucci Grace,' may have provoked Zimbabwe's military takeover

"(Mugabe's) wife and close associates have taken advantage of his frail condition to usurp power and loot state resources," party official Obert Mpofu told the ZANU-PF meeting.

Also, the party added that it would consider impeaching Mugabe if he fails to resign by Monday (November 20, 2017). And Mnangagwa would be its presidential candidate for 2018 election.

Who is Emmerson Mnangagwa?

Emmerson Mnangagwa was the first Vice President of Zimbabwe since 2014 and was sacked from the position by Mugabe on Monday, November 6, 2017.

Mnangagwa was the more prominent of the country's two vice presidents and had been part of Mugabe's cabinet since independence.

Also Read: Emmerson Mnangagwa - Meet the man who may be the next President of Zimbabwe

He was the country’s former minister of defence, before becoming the vice president. Thus, he enjoyed a strong support from military generals and war veterans.

He is generally viewed as a ruthless man, due to his role in stabilizing the reign of Mugabe in the early 1980s as the country’s Minister of state security.

SOURCE - PULSE.NG posted by Campus94