Emmerson Mnangagwa

=== Power struggles and dismissal ===
Until she was dismissed as vice-president, [[Joice Mujuru]] was widely seen as Mnangagwa's main rival to succeed Mugabe as president.<ref name="chiefwhip" /> However, with Mujuru and her key supporters having been purged from the government and the party, she was no longer a threat to Mnangagwa.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-12-09 |title=Breaking News: VP Mujuru bites the dust |newspaper=The Herald |location= |url=http://www.herald.co.zw/breaking-news-vp-mujuru-bites-the-dust/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426204027/http://www.herald.co.zw/breaking-news-vp-mujuru-bites-the-dust/ |archive-date=26 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=":48">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/11/world/africa/robert-mugabe-names-emmerson-mnangagwa-vice-president.html|title=Zimbabwe Leader Picks Hard-Liner as Vice President|last=Cowell|first=Alan|date=2014-12-10|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Maponga |first=George |date=9 April 2015 |title=Zimbabwe: No Split in Zanu-PF, Says Mnangagwa |newspaper=The Herald |location= |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201504090223.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429010444/http://allafrica.com/stories/201504090223.html |archive-date=29 April 2015 |via=allAfrica |df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mataire |first1=Lovemore |last2=Nyabunze |first2=Susan |date=7 April 2015 |title=Mujuru putschists vindicate expulsion |newspaper=The Herald |location= |url=http://www.herald.co.zw/mujuru-putschists-vindicate-expulsion/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426204443/http://www.herald.co.zw/mujuru-putschists-vindicate-expulsion/ |archive-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> Prior to her dismissal, Mujuru had been the target of relentless disparagement by First Lady [[Grace Mugabe]], who accused her of corruption and incompetence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/emmerson-mnangagwa-sworn-in-as-zimbabwes-vice-president-712268|title=Emmerson Mnangagwa Sworn In As Zimbabwe's Vice-President|date=2014-12-12|work=NDTV|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref> Because both found common cause in opposing Mujuru, by the time he became vice-president, the first lady was seen as an emergent political ally of Mnangagwa.<ref name=":48" /> However, by late 2015, Mnangagwa's political ambitions openly clashed with those of Grace Mugabe, who was by then seen as a potential successor to her husband.<ref name="chiefwhip" /><ref name=":50">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thezimbabwean.co/2015/09/vp-sets-cio-on-rivals/|title=VP sets CIO on rivals|date=2015-09-30|website=The Zimbabwean|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref>

ZANU–PF was largely split between two factions: [[Generation 40]], or G40, led by Grace Mugabe, and the [[Lacoste (political faction)|Lacoste]] faction, thought to be led by Mnangagwa.<ref name=":10" /> Mnangagwa drew his support from war veterans and the country's military establishment, in part because of his past leadership of the Joint Operations Command, as well as his reputation in Zimbabwe as a cultivator of stability.<ref name="ICG-2014" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/06/zimbabwe-robert-mugabe-vice-president-emmerson-mnangagwa-grace-mugabe|title=Robert Mugabe sacks vice-president to clear path to power for wife|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=6 November 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=25 November 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>[https://www.hrw.org/reports/2008/zimbabwe0608/4.htm IV. Background], [https://www.hrw.org/reports/2008/zimbabwe0608/index.htm "Bullets for Each of You": State-Sponsored Violence since Zimbabwe's 29 March Elections]. Human Rights Watch. June 2008. {{ISBN|1-56432-324-2}}</ref> The first lady, a relative political newcomer and head of the [[ZANU–PF Women's League]], drew her support from younger, reform-minded party members who sought to replace the old guard.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/zimbabwe-president-grace-mugabe-robert-mugabe-654562|title=Can Robert Mugabe's wife, Grace, still be president of Zimbabwe?|last=Gaffey|first=Conor|date=2017-08-24|work=Newsweek|access-date=2017-11-15|language=en}}</ref> As the G40 faction set its sights on Mnangagwa, the Lacoste faction, largely made up of senior party members, pushed back.<ref name=":10" /> Mnangagwa used his leadership of Zimbabwe's Anti-Corruption Commission to try to discredit G40 leaders by targeting them with highly publicized criminal investigations.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":50" />

By 2016, Grace Mugabe was openly savaging Mnangagwa at political rallies and speaking events. Speaking to crowds at a February 2016 ZANU–PF rally in [[Chiweshe, Zimbabwe|Chiweshe]], she accused him of disloyalty and [[infidelity]], among other offences.<ref name=":51">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thezimbabwean.co/2016/02/mnangagwa-called-grace-a-prostitute/|title=Mnangagwa called Grace a prostitute?|date=2016-02-14|website=The Zimbabwean|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2016/02/13/grace-mauls-mnangagwa|title=Grace mauls Mnangagwa|last=Tafirenyika|first=Mugove|date=2016-02-13|website=DailyNews Live|access-date=2018-12-23|archive-date=24 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224024341/https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2016/02/13/grace-mauls-mnangagwa|url-status=dead}}</ref> Charging him with feigning love for Mugabe, she mocked his presidential ambitions, rhetorically asking, "Didn't you hear there's no vacancy at [[State House, Harare|State House]]?"<ref name=":51" /><ref name=":52" /> The First Lady further accused Mnangagwa, or his allies, of trying to bomb her dairy farm (in fact, several army officers and fringe political activists were charged with the crime), and suggested that his supporters were behind a plot to murder her son.<ref name=":51" /><ref name=":52" /> Later that year, in November 2016, Mugabe declared that she was "already president" at a Women's League assembly, adding, "I plan and do everything with the president, what more do I want?"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/im-already-president-grace-mugabe-claims-report-20161122|title=I'm already president, Grace Mugabe claims – report|date=2016-11-22|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref> Still, President Mugabe did not, at least publicly, take sides in the feud between his wife and Mnangagwa. In February 2017, after his 93rd birthday, Mugabe announced that he would not retire nor pick a successor, though he said he would let ZANU–PF pick a successor if the party saw fit.<ref name="93rdPledgeRemain">{{cite web|url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/02/25/zimbabwe-mugabe-celebrate-93rd-birthday-pledges-to-remain-in-power/|title=Zimbabwe: Mugabe Celebrates 93rd Birthday, Pledges to Remain in Power|last1=Michael|first1=Dibie Ike|date=25 February 2017|publisher=[[Africanews]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226050332/http://www.africanews.com/2017/02/25/zimbabwe-mugabe-celebrate-93rd-birthday-pledges-to-remain-in-power/|archive-date=26 February 2017|url-status=live|access-date=25 February 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-02-25/zimbabwes-mugabe-says-will-not-impose-successor-party-will-choose|title=Zimbabwe's Mugabe Says Will Not Impose Successor, Party Will Choose|last1=Bulawayo|first1=Philimon|date=25 February 2017|publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]] (from [[Reuters]])|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226050302/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-02-25/zimbabwes-mugabe-says-will-not-impose-successor-party-will-choose|archive-date=26 February 2017|url-status=live|access-date=25 February 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In July 2017, Grace Mugabe publicly called on her husband to name an heir.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40740359|title=Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe urged by first lady to name heir|date=27 July 2017|access-date=28 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728150404/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40740359|archive-date=28 July 2017|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

On 11 August 2017, Mnanangwa was allegedly poisoned at a ZANU–PF rally in [[Gwanda]] led by President Mugabe.<ref name=":53">{{Cite web|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/mnangagwa-clarifies-poisoning-statement/|title=Mnangagwa clarifies poisoning statement|last=Mugabe|first=Tendai|date=2017-10-06|website=The Herald|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref><ref name=":54">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/08/mnangagwa-poisoning-details-emerge/|title=Mnangagwa poisoning details emerge|last=Mhlanga|first=Blessed|date=2017-08-21|website=NewsDay Zimbabwe|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref><ref name=":22" /> After falling ill, Mnangagwa was airlifted first to [[Gweru]], then to Harare, and finally to South Africa, where he underwent a minor surgery.<ref name=":53" /><ref name=":54" /><ref name=":22">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41530924|title=Grace Mugabe warns of coup plot|date=6 October 2017|access-date=14 November 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|others=Additional political analysis by Shingai Nyoka of BBC News Harare|language=en-GB}}</ref> Doctors reportedly ruled out routine food poisoning, but detected traces of [[palladium]] in his liver, which would require [[detoxification]] treatments over the following two months.<ref name=":54" /> Still, Minister of Information [[Chris Mushohwe]] maintained that "stale food" could have been to blame, stating, "I don't know about that palladium... our official statement stands."<ref name=":54" /> Following the incident, rumors spread among supporters of Mnangagwa that Grace Mugabe had ordered the vice-president's poisoning via ice cream produced at a dairy farm she controlled.<ref name=":22" /> The emergence of such rumors resulted in criticism directed at Mnangagwa. Phelekezela Mphoko, the country's other vice-president, publicly rebuked Mnangagwa, accusing him of attempting to weaken the country, divide ZANU–PF, and undermine the president, and claiming that doctors had concluded that stale food was to blame.<ref name=":22" /> Grace Mugabe herself denied the rumors that she was involved and rhetorically asked, "Who is Mnangagwa, who is he?"<ref name=":22" /> Mnangagwa responded by pledging loyalty to ZANU–PF and President Mugabe, and said the rumors regarding Grace Mugabe's involvement were untrue, adding that he had not consumed any dairy products from the first lady's farm.<ref name=":53" /><ref name=":22" />

On 9 October 2017, President Mugabe announced a new cabinet in which Mnangagwa, while maintaining the vice-presidency, lost his position as minister of justice to [[Happyton Bonyongwe]], the country's [[spymaster]].<ref name=":55">{{Cite news|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/africaTech/idAFKBN1CF0L3-OZATP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013044114/http://af.reuters.com/article/africaTech/idAFKBN1CF0L3-OZATP|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2017|title=Zimbabwe's Mugabe creates cyber ministry in cabinet reshuffle|last=Dzirutwe|first=MacDonald|date=10 October 2017|work=[[Reuters|Reuters Africa]]|access-date=25 November 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> The previous week, Mnangagwa claimed that he had been poisoned at the August rally in Gwanda, in contrast to previous statements in which he said only that he had "fallen ill".<ref name=":55" /> That statement, coupled with President Mugabe's announcement several days later that he planned to review the performance of his ministers, led to speculation that a cabinet reshuffle could result in an unfavorable outcome for Mnangagwa.<ref name=":55" />

On 6 November 2017, Mugabe dismissed Mnangagwa as vice-president, in a move that positioned First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed the aging president.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":56">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/06/world/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-mnangagwa.html|title=Mugabe Fires Vice President, Clearing Path to Power for Wife|last=Moyo|first=Jeffrey|date=6 November 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=7 November 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Information Minister [[Simon Khaya Moyo]] attributed the dismissal to Mnangagwa's "traits of disloyalty, disrespect, deceitfulness, and unreliability".<ref name=":56" /><ref>[http://news.sky.com/story/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-fires-vice-president-emmerson-mnangagwa-11116606 "Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe fires vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa"], ''[[Sky News]]'', UK, 6 November 2017. Retrieved on 7 November 2017.</ref> Mnangagwa had been accused of undermining the president's authority and of plotting to take control of key government institutions.<ref name=":56" /> In a possible prelude to Mnangagwa's dismissal, two days earlier at a youth rally in Bulawayo, he had been cheered on by supporters, but was harshly rebuked by the president and first lady, who accused him of disloyalty.<ref name=":56" /> His removal was supported by Grace Mugabe and her G40 faction, and was a blow to the influence of the Lacoste faction, the military establishment, and the [[Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association|War Veterans Association]], which formed Mnangagwa's base of support.<ref name=":56" />