Mugabe Booted as Party Chief, Wife Gets 'Forever' Ban

Embattled Zimbabwe leader is under pressure to resign
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 19, 2017 6:37 AM CST
Mugabe Booted as Party Chief, Wife Gets 'Forever' Ban
A portrait of Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, hangs at the ZANU PF party headquarters in Harare, Sunday Nov, 19, 2017.   (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

A Zimbabwe ruling party official confirms that the Central Committee has fired President Robert Mugabe as party leader and replaced him with the recently dismissed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The emergency meeting also has recalled first lady Grace Mugabe as head of the women's league "forever." The meeting continues, reports the AP. Mugabe on Sunday is meeting with the army commander who put him under house arrest in a second round of negotiations on his departure as president after nearly four decades. Pressure is mounting on Mugabe to resign, reports the BBC, which notes that a motorcade has left Mugabe's home.

A Zimbabwean ruling party member says there could be prosecutions of members of a party faction close to Grace Mugabe. Lawmaker Emmanuel Fundira also says he thinks it is a "fait accompli" that recently fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be reinstated and chosen to lead Zimbabwe after Mugabe's expected resignation.

(More Robert Mugabe stories.)

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