Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Reuters, 24/09 14:29 CET
By MacDonald Dzirutwe
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has cemented his status as heir
apparent to 91-year-old Robert Mugabe after getting close allies
appointed to important cabinet posts and securing the tasks of reforming
the economy and legal system.
A secretive confidante nicknamed ‘Crocodile’ in the Shona
language, Mnangagwa was appointed Mugabe’s official deputy in December
after the sacking of Joice Mujuru, who had held the position for 10
years.
Mugabe has reshuffled his cabinet three times in the last
nine months to purge Mujuru supporters and end factional fights over an
eventual successor. Each time, Mnangagwa allies have secured cabinet
posts.
With his right-hand-man, July Moyo, leading operations at ZANU-PF party headquarters and with what is believed to be the backing of the military top brass, Mnangagwa is the closest to power.
“He will have to contend with various forces…he has many
obstacles to overcome. Having said that, he is the most strategically
located to take over,” said Eldred Masunungure, political science
lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.
“He is a close ally and confidante of the president for a long time.”
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Source: Euronews
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