Emmerson Mnangagwa

=== Minister of Defence: 2009–2013 ===
After the [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai]] won a majority of seats in Parliament in the 2008 election, Mnangagwa played a key role in brokering a power-sharing pact between ZANU–PF and the MDC–T. When the [[Zimbabwe Government of National Unity of 2009|Government of National Unity]] was sworn in on 13 February 2009, Mnangagwa became [[Ministry of Defence (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Defence]].<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite news|author=Dzirutwe, MacDonald |title=Zimbabwe's MDC says senior official arrested |newspaper=Reuters |date=13 February 2009 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE51C4VM20090213 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214160208/https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE51C4VM20090213 |archive-date=14 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/4614295/Zimbabwe-minister-arrested-as-cabinet-sworn-in.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/4614295/Zimbabwe-minister-arrested-as-cabinet-sworn-in.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Zimbabwe minister arrested as cabinet sworn in|last1=Berger|first1=Sebastien|date=2009-02-13|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2018-10-24|last2=Thornycroft|first2=Peta|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Despite having coordinated a campaign of political violence against the MDC–T in 2008, and allegedly having been behind three separate attempts to assassinate Tsvangirai over the years, Mnangagwa spoke kindly about the country's coalition government in a 2011 interview.<ref name=":41">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/8584312/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-vs-Morgan-Tsvangirai-the-two-opposing-faces-of-Zimbabwe.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/8584312/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-vs-Morgan-Tsvangirai-the-two-opposing-faces-of-Zimbabwe.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Emmerson Mnangagwa vs Morgan Tsvangirai: the two opposing faces of Zimbabwe|last=Freeman|first=Colin|date=2011-06-19|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He said, "a lot of things have happened that are positive ... we can work together without too many problems."<ref name=":41" />

In spite of his compliments of the unity government, Mnangagwa was accused by human rights groups of using his influence in the Joint Operations Command to mobilize violent pro-ZANU–PF groups ahead of the [[2013 Zimbabwean general election|2013 general election]].<ref name=":41" /> Mnangagwa denied that he was in charge of the JOC, calling the allegations "nonsense" and insisting that he wanted upcoming elections to be "free and fair".<ref name=":41" /> He also denied having any presidential ambitions, pointing out that ZANU–PF has procedures to choose a new president.<ref name=":41" /> In the election, Mugabe was re-elected President by a wide margin, and ZANU–PF regained its majority in the National Assembly.

On 10 September 2013, Mugabe announced a new cabinet, appointing Mnangagwa to the post of Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the office he previously held from 1989 to 2000.<ref name=":42">{{Cite news|title=Breaking news:President Mugabe Appoints New Cabinet |date=10 September 2013 |newspaper=The Herald |location=Harare, Zimbabwe |url=http://www.herald.co.zw/breaking-news-president-mugabe-set-to-announce-cabinet/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912232417/http://www.herald.co.zw/breaking-news-president-mugabe-set-to-announce-cabinet/ |archive-date=12 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":43">{{Cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-13-00-mujurus-ring-takes-cabinet|title=Zim VP Mujuru's ring takes Cabinet|last=Munyaka|first=Takudzwa|date=2013-09-13|work=The Mail & Guardian|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en}}</ref> Vice-President Joice Mujuru's faction of the party was seen as the victor in Mugabe's cabinet appointment, taking most key positions, including defence, which was previously held by Mnangagwa but was given to [[Sydney Sekeramayi]] in the new cabinet.<ref name=":43" /> By contrast, Mnangagwa's faction received only two key portfolios: [[Patrick Chinamasa]] as minister of finance, and Mnangagwa himself as justice minister.<ref name=":43" /> The political scientist Eldred Masunungure attributed the Mujuru faction's gains to its influence in the ZANU–PF presidium.<ref name=":43" /> Masunungure described Mnangagwa's move from being minister of defence to becoming minister of justice as a "significant blow, though the justice ministry is quite important".<ref name=":43" />