TheCable

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has been sacked by the ruling ZANU-PF party as its leader and replaced with Emmerson Mnangagwa, his sacked vice-president.

Mugabe’s sack of Mnangagwa, nicknamed ‘The Crocodile’, allegedly triggered the military seizure of power last Wednesday.

According to Reuters, the leaders of the party met on Sunday to take the decision.

His wife, Grace Mugabe, was also fired as head of the ZANU-PF Women’s League.

93-year-old  Mugabe has been the president of the country since it gained independence 37 years ago.

Patrick Zhuwao, Mugabe’s nephew, was reported to have said: “President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and his wife Grace are ready to die for what is correct and have no intention of stepping down.”

Zhuwao said Mugabe had hardly slept since the military seized power on Wednesday but his health was otherwise “good”.

State television said Mugabe would meet military commanders on Sunday, quoting the Catholic priest who has been mediating in negotiations with the president.

Mugabe has maintained that he is the only legitimate ruler of Zimbabwe.

He was under house arrest for three days since the military took over. On Friday, he made his first public appearance at a graduation ceremony in a school in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe.