Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe sacked from ruling party
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has been fired as the leader of ruling party ZANU-PF, said sources who attended a special ZANU-PF meeting to decide Mugabe's fate. 93-year-old Mugabe was replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa, the deputy whom he had sacked earlier this month. Although the decision has yet to be formalized, there's already talk of impeaching Mugabe as President.
President Mugabe's 37-year-long reign
President Robert Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years since the African nation gained its independence from Britain in 1980. Mugabe's authoritarian rule was, for a long time, supported by Zimbabwe's military establishment.
The start of an extraordinary series of events in Zimbabwe
Mugabe's sacking of ZANU-PF vice-president Mnangagwa two weeks ago precipitated an extraordinary series of events in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa's sacking put Mugabe's much disliked wife, Grace, in prime position to succeed the 93-year-old as the next president of Zimbabwe. Tensions also erupted between Zimbabwe's military establishment and the Mugabe government after the latter accused army chief General Constantino Chiwenga of "treasonable conduct" for criticizing Mugabe.
Army takes over Zimbabwe, reiterates that it's not a coup
Soon after Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe and tensions soared between the Mugabe government and the Zimbabwean military, the military intervened. Although generals denied staging a coup, President Mugabe and his wife were placed under house arrest on Tuesday as the army took control of the country. Mugabe still remains under house arrest. On Wednesday, the army took control of the national broadcaster headquarters.
The army's statement on the events in Zimbabwe
"The president... and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed. This is not a military takeover of government...We are only targeting criminals around him [Mugabe] who are committing crimes," said Major General Sibusiso Moyo.
