Behind Mugabe’s Rapid Fall: A Firing, a Feud and a First Lady
- 7 years ago
Behind Mugabe’s Rapid Fall: A Firing, a Feud and a First Lady
At the same time, Mrs. Mugabe intensified her faction’s attacks, describing Mr. Mnangagwa as a "coward"
and "coup plotter." At a rally in the city of Bulawayo early this month, some youths, presumably from the rival Lacoste faction, began heckling Mrs. Mugabe, calling her a "thief." "If you were paid to boo me, go ahead," she said.
Despite his efforts to win over the president through Mrs. Mugabe, Mr. Moyo still remained unsure about the "old man’s standing vis-à-vis Mnangagwa
and Chiwenga," said the friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the conversation had been private.
As the Lacoste faction solidified the takedown of Mr. Mugabe, party officials on Sunday removed
Mrs. Mugabe as head of the ZANU-PF Women’s League and barred her from the party for life.
"If I erred, I will drop him even tomorrow." Two days later, he fired Mr. Mnangagwa, opening the path
for Mrs. Mugabe to become vice president and, once nature took its course, her husband’s successor.
The chain of events leading to Mr. Mugabe’s downfall started on Nov. 6, when he fired his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a close ally of the military,
and then tried to arrest the nation’s top military commander a few days later.
And who better to protect your interests than yourself." Very rapidly, Mrs. Mugabe
and her allies orchestrated the removal of rivals, including Joice Mujuru, a vice president, as well as Mr. Mutsvangwa, who had been Mr. Mugabe’s minister of war veterans affairs.
At the same time, Mrs. Mugabe intensified her faction’s attacks, describing Mr. Mnangagwa as a "coward"
and "coup plotter." At a rally in the city of Bulawayo early this month, some youths, presumably from the rival Lacoste faction, began heckling Mrs. Mugabe, calling her a "thief." "If you were paid to boo me, go ahead," she said.
Despite his efforts to win over the president through Mrs. Mugabe, Mr. Moyo still remained unsure about the "old man’s standing vis-à-vis Mnangagwa
and Chiwenga," said the friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the conversation had been private.
As the Lacoste faction solidified the takedown of Mr. Mugabe, party officials on Sunday removed
Mrs. Mugabe as head of the ZANU-PF Women’s League and barred her from the party for life.
"If I erred, I will drop him even tomorrow." Two days later, he fired Mr. Mnangagwa, opening the path
for Mrs. Mugabe to become vice president and, once nature took its course, her husband’s successor.
The chain of events leading to Mr. Mugabe’s downfall started on Nov. 6, when he fired his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a close ally of the military,
and then tried to arrest the nation’s top military commander a few days later.
And who better to protect your interests than yourself." Very rapidly, Mrs. Mugabe
and her allies orchestrated the removal of rivals, including Joice Mujuru, a vice president, as well as Mr. Mutsvangwa, who had been Mr. Mugabe’s minister of war veterans affairs.