Emmerson Mnangagwa

== Post-independence political career ==
=== Minister of State for National Security: 1980–1988 ===
On 12 March 1980, the month before Zimbabwe's independence, incoming Prime Minister Robert Mugabe named his first cabinet, in which Mnangagwa was named [[Minister of State for National Security in the President's Office (Zimbabwe)|Minister of State for National Security in the President's Office]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":28" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ross |first=Jay |date=1980-03-12 |title=Mugabe Appoints Cabinet Designed To Placate Whites |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/03/12/mugabe-appoints-cabinet-designed-to-placate-whites/8b03f5f3-0bb7-4368-834e-29382342af9d/ |access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref> Among other responsibilities, his portfolio oversaw the [[Central Intelligence Organisation]], the national [[intelligence agency]].<ref name=":3" /> In that position, Mnangagwa cultivated strong relationships with Zimbabwe's security establishment.<ref name=":6" /> After the head of [[Zimbabwe Defence Forces]], the Rhodesian holdover General [[Peter Walls]], was dismissed by Mugabe on 15 September 1980, Mnangagwa also took over as Chairman of the [[Joint Operations Command (Zimbabwe)|Joint Operations Command]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-09-17 |title=Zimbabwe's Army Chief Is Dismissed for Disloyalty |work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1980/09/18/111294359.pdf |access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> In that role, he oversaw the integration of ZANLA and ZIPRA fighters with the existing units of the former [[Rhodesian Security Forces]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2017-11-22-emmerson-mnangagwa-the-man-behind-the-coup/|title=Emmerson Mnangagwa: the man behind the coup|date=22 November 2017|work=[[Financial Mail]]|access-date=25 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031959/https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2017-11-22-emmerson-mnangagwa-the-man-behind-the-coup/|archive-date=2017-12-01|url-status=dead|language=en-US}}</ref> During this period, he also served as ZANU's secretary for national security.<ref name=":28" />

In the [[1985 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|1985 parliamentary election]], Mnangagwa ran as ZANU's candidate for the [[Kwekwe East]] constituency. He won with 86% of the vote, defeating [[Zimbabwe African People's Union|ZAPU]]'s Elias Hananda and the [[United African National Council]]'s Kenneth Kumbirayi Kaparepare, who respectively received 11% and 3%.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eU6OAAAAIAAJ |title=法學研究: 法律・政治・社会 |date=1998 |publisher=法学硏究会 |pages=18 |language=ja}}</ref>

====''Gukurahundi''====
[[File:Matabeleland.svg|thumb|The Gukurahundi took place in Zimbabwe's western Matabeleland region (pictured in red)]]
While Mnangagwa was Minister of State for National Security, the [[5th Brigade (Zimbabwe)|5th Brigade]] of the [[Zimbabwe National Army]] killed thousands of [[Northern Ndebele people|Ndebele]] civilians in the [[Matabeleland]] region of western Zimbabwe. These massacres, known as the ''[[Gukurahundi]]'', lasted from 1983 to 1987, and resulted in an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 deaths.<ref name="CCJP">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/BreakingTheSilenceBuildingTruePeace |title=Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace: Report on the 1980s Disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands |publisher=Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe and the Legal Resources Foundation (Zimbabwe) |year=1997 |editor=Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe |location=Harare, Zimbabwe |oclc=40480429 |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101153012/https://archive.org/details/BreakingTheSilenceBuildingTruePeace |archive-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="hill77">{{cite book
|title=The Battle for Zimbabwe: The Final Countdown
|last=Hill
|first=Geoff
|location=Johannesburg
|publisher=Struik Publishers
|year=2005|orig-year=2003
|isbn=978-1-86872-652-3
|page=77}}</ref> The extent of Mnangagwa's role in the genocide is disputed, with Mnangagwa himself denying any involvement.<ref name=":24">{{cite news|url=https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-125093.html|title=US cables link Mnangagwa, Mugabe to Gukurahundi|date=31 December 2017|work=Bulawayo24 News|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="mg.co.za">{{cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-11-24-00-gukurahundi-ghosts-haunt-mnangagwa|title=Gukurahundi ghosts haunt Mnangagwa|last=Allison|first=Simon|work=Mail & Guardian|date=24 November 2017|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref> He asked in a 2017 interview, "How do I become the enforcer of the ''Gukurahundi''? We had the president, the minister of defence, the commander of the army, and I was none of that."<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":25">{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-11-27-op-ed-mnangagwa-and-the-gukurahundi-fact-and-fiction/|title=Op-Ed: Mnangagwa and the Gukurahundi – fact and fiction|last=Doran|first=Stuart|date=2017-11-27|work=Daily Maverick|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en-US}}</ref>

Despite his denials, Mnangagwa is accused by many, including foreign governments, opposition politicians, and human rights groups, of playing a significant, or leading role in the ''Gukurahundi''.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":10" /> As national security minister, his CIO worked with the army to suppress ZAPU, ZANU's rival political party, which drew its support from Ndebele people.<ref name=":1" /> In the lead-up to the massacres, he delivered speeches attacking the opposition.<ref name="mg.co.za" /><ref name=":63" /><ref name=":64" /> In a 15 March 1983 speech at a rally in [[Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe|Victoria Falls]], he described government opponents as "[[cockroach]]es" and "bugs" that required the government to bring in [[DDT]] (a [[pesticide]]) to remove them.<ref name="mg.co.za" /><ref name=":63">{{cite news|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2017-11-23-zim-expats-remember-mnangagwas-role-in-gukurahundi-massacres/|title=Zim expats remember Mnangagwa's role in Gukurahundi massacres|last=Ndlangisa|first=Sabelo|work=TimesLIVE|date=23 November 2017|access-date=16 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=":64">{{cite news|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/africa/2017-11-23-mnangagwas-role-in-gukurahundi-massacres-not-forgotten-for-zim-expats/|title=Mnangagwa's role in Gukurahundi massacres not forgotten for Zim expats|last=Ndlangisa|first=Sabelo|work=SowetanLIVE|date=23 November 2017|access-date=16 April 2017}}</ref> He also said that their villages should be burned.<ref name=":3" /> In another speech, he said: "Blessed are they who follow the path of government laws, for their days on earth shall be increased. But woe unto those who will choose the path of collaboration with dissidents, for we will certainly shorten their stay on earth."<ref name=":3" />

When the massacres began, Mnangagwa was tasked with explaining the violence to the international community, and made most of the public comments on behalf of the Zimbabwean government on the activities of the 5th Brigade.<ref name=":24" /> In addition, documents from both the [[United States Department of State]] and the [[Australia]]n embassy in Harare reveal Mnangagwa's knowledge of and role in the ''Gukurahundi''.<ref name=":24" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2015/05/mugabe-exposed/|title=Mugabe's Gukurahundi role exposed|last=Samukange|first=Tinotenda|date=2015-05-18|website=NewsDay Zimbabwe|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref> While the 5th Brigade, which Mnangagwa did not directly oversee, carried out the vast majority of the killings, the CIO participated in other ways, including apprehending and interrogating alleged dissidents.<ref name=":25" /> Whereas the 5th Brigade targeted large numbers of Ndebele civilians, the CIO often focused on more specific targets, particularly ZAPU leaders and organizers.<ref name=":25" /> The CIO also provided information, including documents and surveillance intelligence, to the 5th Brigade and other segments of the government involved in the violence.<ref name=":25" /> The CIO gave Bush War-era ZIPRA personnel files to the 5th Brigade, which used them to seek out ex-ZANU and ZIPRA leaders in Matabeleland.<ref name=":25" /> In addition to focused violence and intelligence-sharing, CIO leaders also cooperated with other groups participating in the ''Gukurahundi'' through informal channels of communication.<ref name=":26" /> In Zimbabwe at the time, coordination between government agencies did not always occur within bureaucratic channels, but often through ethnic or political connections.<ref name=":25" /> Thus, as Mugabe's security minister, Mnangagwa's role was not necessarily restricted by the limitations of his ministry or the CIO.<ref name=":25" />

The ''Gukurahundi'' ended with the signing of the [[Unity Accord]] on 22 December 1987.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":27">{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/landmarks-in-robert-mugabes-life-853020.html|title=Landmarks in Robert Mugabe's life|date=2008-06-24|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":29">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1989/10/22/apartheids-spies/78cac89e-ec8b-4c3e-87a7-8afc1c778c81|title=Apartheid's Spies|last=Berkeley|first=Bill|date=1989-10-22|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2018-10-18}}</ref> The agreement, signed by Prime Minister Mugabe and ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo, merged ZAPU into the ruling [[ZANU–PF|Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front]] (ZANU–PF).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":27" /><ref name=":29" /> On 18 April 1988, Mugabe announced amnesty for all dissidents, and in return, Nkomo called on them to lay down their arms.<ref name=":27" /> In the late 1980s, a series of court cases exposed the existence of [[apartheid]] [[South Africa]]n spies within the CIO, who played a significant role in causing the ''Gukurahundi'' by providing distorted intelligence reports and purposely inflaming ethnic tensions.<ref name=":29" /> These spies, white holdovers from the Rhodesian era, contributed to South Africa's interest in destabilising the newly independent Zimbabwe. In particular, they sought to damage ZAPU and ZIPRA, which maintained close ties to the [[African National Congress]], the leading [[Internal resistance to apartheid|anti-apartheid]] group in South Africa.<ref name=":29" /> Mnangagwa admitted that the South Africa had a "major implant in intelligence under [[Ian Smith|Smith]]" and that Zimbabwe's post-independence government "initially left these implants".<ref name=":29" /> Asked why these agents were allowed to remain the CIO, he responded, "We had no choice. We could not allow our whole intelligence capability to collapse overnight."<ref name=":29" />

White CIO agents who cooperated with South Africa included [[Geoffrey Price (spy)|Geoffrey Price]], an agent responsible for Prime Minister Mugabe's personal security, who, along with a small cell of white agents, supplied information leading to South Africa's August 1981 assassination of [[Joe Gqabi]], an ANC representative in Zimbabwe.<ref name=":29" /> Another, [[Matt Calloway]], formerly the CIO's top agent in [[Hwange District]], was in 1983 identified by the Zimbabwean government as being involved a South African operation that recruited, trained, and armed disaffected Ndebeles and sent them back into Matabeleland as guerrillas.<ref name=":29" /> The violence they sparked contributed to the start of the ''Gukurahundi''.<ref name=":29" /> A third was [[Kevin Woods]], an agent until 1986, who served as the CIO's top administrative officer in [[Bulawayo]] throughout much of the ''Gukurahundi''.<ref name=":25" /><ref name=":29" /> In 1988, Woods was arrested and charged with participating in a [[car bomb]] attack targeting an ANC representative in Bulawayo.<ref name=":29" /> At his trial, he confessed—freely, he said, because he feared interrogation methods which he was very familiar from his time at the CIO—to being a double agent for South Africa.<ref name=":25" /><ref name=":29" /> Woods' confession, part of a high-profile case that reached Zimbabwe's [[Supreme Court of Zimbabwe|Supreme Court]], brought new attention to the wide scope of South Africa's infiltration of Zimbabwe's intelligence apparatus, especially in relation to the ''Gukurahundi''.<ref name=":29" /> The Woods affair was embarrassing for Mnangagwa, and according to one source, caused Mugabe to remove him from the position of Minister of State Security.<ref name=":25" />

=== Minister of Justice: 1988–2000 ===
In 1988, President Mugabe appointed Mnangagwa [[Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs|Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":28" /> According to a 1988 report by the U.S. embassy in Harare, Mugabe originally intended to name Mnangagwa Minister of Defence, but was persuaded not to by [[Nathan Shamuyarira]] and [[Sydney Sekeramayi]], the leaders of the "Group of 26", a clique that sought to increase the political power of members of the [[Zezuru]] people, a Shona subgroup.<ref name=":28" /> Shamuyarira and Sekeramayi objected to Mnangagwa's appointment to the post because he was Karanga, but did not oppose Mugabe's replacement appointee, [[Enos Nkala]], an Ndebele.<ref name=":28" /> Not coincidentally, Sekeramayi himself succeeded Mnangagwa as Minister of State for National Security.<ref name=":28" /> Instead, Mugabe appointed Mnangagwa Minister of Justice, succeeding [[Eddison Zvobgo]], another Karanga.<ref name=":28" /> Mnangagwa, who expected to be named Minister of Defence or [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Home Affairs]], considered this appointment a [[demotion]], as the ministry had already completed its most important tasks under Zvobgo's leadership.<ref name=":28" /> These included drafting the constitutional amendments that abolished the 20 seats in [[Parliament of Zimbabwe|Parliament]] reserved for [[White people in Zimbabwe|whites]] and establishing an executive [[President of Zimbabwe|presidency]], which both were completed in 1987.<ref name=":28" /> Mnangagwa was initially so disappointed with his cabinet role that he considered leaving politics and entering the private sector, but he ultimately accepted the new position.<ref name=":28" />

Mnangagwa ran for reelection to Parliament in the [[1990 Zimbabwean general election|1990 election]], this time in the newly created [[Kwekwe Central|Kwekwe]] constituency.<ref name=":49">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tz1EAQAAIAAJ|title=Report on the 1990 general and presidential elections|last1=Masendeke|first1=Anthony F.|last2=Mhlaba|first2=Luke|last3=Mafico|first3=Muriel U.|date=1991|publisher=University of Zimbabwe, Dept. of Political and Administrative Studies|language=en}}</ref> ZANU–PF ran a well-publicised and organised campaign in [[Kwekwe]], holding meetings between Mnangagwa and community leaders and putting up numerous posters.<ref name=":49" /> However, there were also reports of [[voter intimidation]] and harassment, including from [[ZANU–PF Women's League|Women's League]] members, some of whom said they were coerced into joining a demonstration against the [[Zimbabwe Unity Movement]], the opposition party contesting Mnangagwa's seat.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kriger|first=Norma|date=January 2005|title=ZANU(PF) Strategies in General Elections, 1980–2000: Discourse and Coercion|journal=African Affairs|volume=104|issue=414|pages=1–34|jstor=3518631|doi=10.1093/afraf/adi016}}</ref> On election day, Mnangagwa won with 23,898 votes, while his little-known rival, ZUM candidate Sylvester Chibanda, received only 7,094 votes.<ref name=":49" /> Mnangagwa was reelected again in the [[1995 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|1995 parliamentary election]], in another race marked by voter intimidation.<ref name=":65" /> [[Election monitoring|Election monitors]] in Kwekwe reported that voters were told that if they did not vote with ZANU–PF, the ''Gukurahundi'' atrocities would be repeated against them.<ref name=":65">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCh9CL25Ic0C|title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1996|isbn=9780160524806|location=Washington, D.C.|pages=306|language=en}}</ref>[[File:Kinshasa -Gombe.JPG|thumb|Kinshasa, where Mnangagwa was often based during the Second Congo War.]]
While serving as justice minister, Mnangagwa was also acting [[List of Finance Ministers of Zimbabwe|Finance Minister]] from November 1995 to April 1996, after the previous minister, [[Bernard Chidzero]], stepped down for health reasons, and his successor [[Ariston Chambati]] died.<ref name=":4" /> He was also acting [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] for a short period.<ref name=":4" /> In 1998, Mnangagwa was put in charge of Zimbabwe's intervention in the [[Second Congo War]], in which the [[Zimbabwe National Army]] entered the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] on the side of Congolese President [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]].<ref name=":3" /> A 2000 article in the Zimbabwean magazine ''[[Moto (magazine)|Moto]]'' described Mnangagwa as Mugabe's [[heir apparent]], writing, "With the DRC issue at hand, it has been difficult to tell whether he is the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Defence as he has been shuttling between Harare and [[Kinshasa]]."<ref name=":30">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ywxAQAAIAAJ|title=Moto|date=2000|publisher=Mambo Press|language=en|issue=205–210}}</ref> During the war, Mnangagwa enriched himself through mineral wealth seized from the Congo.<ref name=":3" /> After [[Billy Rautenbach]], a Zimbabwean businessman, was placed in charge of [[Gécamines]], the Congolese state mining company, Mnangagwa began brokering deals between the company and Zimbabwean connections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/1318448/Kabila-is-gone-but-diamonds-are-forever.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/1318448/Kabila-is-gone-but-diamonds-are-forever.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Kabila is gone but diamonds are forever|last=Blair|first=David|date=2001-01-18|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2018-10-23|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Speaker of Parliament: 2000–2005 ===
Mnangagwa ran in the [[2000 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|2000 parliamentary election]] as the ZANU–PF candidate for the Kwekwe constituency.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":39">{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2015/05/26/mnangagwa-cannot-win-elections|title=Mnangagwa cannot win elections|last=Tafirenyika|first=Mugove|date=2015-05-26|work=DailyNews Live|access-date=2018-10-24|archive-date=24 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024073801/https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2015/05/26/mnangagwa-cannot-win-elections|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was defeated by [[Blessing Chebundo]] of the newly formed [[Movement for Democratic Change (1999–2005)|Movement for Democratic Change]], who received 64% of the vote to Mnangagwa's 35%.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":39" /><ref name=":31">{{Cite news|url=http://old.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/2000/7/article/zimbabwe-elects-new-speaker/260550.html|title=Zimbabwe Elects New Speaker|last=Chinaka|first=Chris|date=2000-07-20|work=The Moscow Times|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref> Mnangagwa lost in spite of voter intimidation and violence by ZANU–PF, which included dousing Chebundo in petrol and attempting to burn him alive, as well as setting Chebundo's house on fire.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":32">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6506549.stm|title=Profile: Emmerson Mnangagwa|last=Winter|first=Joseph|date=2007-03-30|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-10-23|language=en-GB}}</ref> After his defeat, Mugabe appointed Mnangagwa to one of the 20 unelected seats in Parliament.<ref name=":39" /><ref name="Opts">Lebo Nkatazo, [http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/mnanga12.17704.html "After 2 defeats, Mnangagwa opts for rural constituency"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208120758/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/mnanga12.17704.html |date=8 February 2008 }}, Newzimbabwe.com, 5 February 2008.</ref>

On 17 July 2000, Mugabe announced a new cabinet, from which Mnangagwa was conspicuously absent.<ref name=":31" /> His exclusion from the cabinet fanned speculation that Mnangagwa, widely seen as Mugabe's preferred successor, had lost favour with the president. However, the next day, when Parliament was sworn in, Mnangagwa was elected [[List of speakers of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe|Speaker of the House of Assembly]], receiving 87 ballots against MDC candidate [[Mike Mataure]]'s 59 votes.<ref name=":31" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2361_00.htm|title=Zimbabwe: parliamentary elections Parliament, 2000|website=archive.ipu.org|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref> The secret ballot election was the first competitive vote for speaker since the country's independence.<ref name=":31" /> Rather than having lost the president's favour, Mugabe likely excluded Mnangagwa from the cabinet because he was arranging for him to serve as speaker instead.<ref name=":31" />

In October 2000, Mnangagwa thwarted an attempt by the MDC members of Parliament to [[Impeachment|impeach]] Mugabe.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Degrees in Violence: Robert Mugabe and the Struggle for Power in Zimbabwe|last=Blair|first=David|publisher=Continuum|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8264-5974-9|location=London and New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/degreesinviolenc0000blai/page/196 196]|url=https://archive.org/details/degreesinviolenc0000blai/page/196}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Mugabe: Teacher, Revolutionary, Tyrant|last=Norman|first=Andrew|publisher=The History Press|year=2008|isbn=978-1-86227-491-4|location=Stroud|pages=86}}</ref> During his tenure as speaker, Mnangagwa continued to be subject to international scrutiny regarding his mining interests in the Congo during the Second Congo War. A 2001 [[United Nations]] report described him as "the architect of the commercial activities of ZANU–PF".<ref name=":32" /> A ''[[The Guardian]]'' article from the same year wrote that Mnangagwa "negotiated the swapping of Zimbabwean soldiers' lives for mining contracts".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/may/29/zimbabwe.chrismcgreal|title=An army guarding power and profits|last=McGreal|first=Chris|date=2001-05-29|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref> In 2002, a report authored by a panel commissioned by the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] implicated him in the exploitation of mineral wealth from the Congo and for his involvement in making Harare a significant illicit diamond trading centre.<ref name=":33">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/22/world/un-study-says-armies-leave-corrupt-networks-in-congo.html|title=U.N. Study Says Armies Leave Corrupt Networks in Congo|date=2002-10-22|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-10-22|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":34">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2002/n0262179.pdf "Final report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo"] United Nations, UN Doc: S/2002/1146, 16 October 2002</ref> The panel and recommended that Mnangagwa, along with 53 others, be subject to international travel bans and financial restrictions.<ref name=":33" /><ref name=":34" /> The following year, he was placed under United States sanctions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/03/10/03-5848/blocking-property-of-persons-undermining-democratic-processes-or-institutions-in-zimbabwe|title=Blocking property of persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe|work=Federal Register|access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref>

In December 2004, internal divisions within ZANU–PF became public when Mnangagwa, along with [[Jonathan Moyo]], the [[Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Information]], were censured at a party meeting for allegedly plotting against Mugabe.<ref name=":9" /> The controversy began when Moyo hosted a meeting with other politicians in his home district of [[Tsholotsho District|Tsholotsho]] to discuss replacing Mugabe's choice for vice-president, [[Joice Mujuru]], with Mnangagwa.<ref name=":35">{{Cite news|url=https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/dec30_2004.html|title=Final nail in Moyo coffin|date=2004-12-29|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref><ref name=":36">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4191143.stm|title=Mugabe ministers in court battle|date=2005-01-20|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-10-23|language=en-GB}}</ref> They hoped that as vice-president, Mnangagwa would be in a superior position to become president when Mugabe stepped down, which they believed might happen as early as 2008.<ref name=":35" /><ref name=":36" /> The group also planned to replace ZANU–PF chair [[John Nkomo]] and party vice-president [[Joseph Msika]] with their preferred candidates.<ref name=":35" />

Despite President Mugabe's calls for unity, observers described the rivalry between supporters of Mnangagwa and Mujuru as the most serious division within ZANU–PF in 30 years.<ref name=":36" /> Mujuru garnered a large amount of support in ZANU–PF's [[Politburo of ZANU–PF|politburo]], [[central committee]], [[presidium]], and among the provincial party chairs.<ref name="ICG-2014">{{Cite web|url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/southern-africa/zimbabwe/b103-zimbabwe-waiting-for-the-future.pdf|title=Zimbabwe: Waiting for the Future|date=29 September 2014|series=Africa Briefing No. 103|publisher=International Crisis Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930210617/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/southern-africa/zimbabwe/b103-zimbabwe-waiting-for-the-future.pdf|archive-date=30 September 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=9 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Mnangagwa's support came from the senior ranks of the security establishment, as well as parts of ZANU–PF's parliamentary caucus and younger party members.<ref name="ICG-2014" /> The rivalry was ethnic as well as political: Mnangagwa drew his support from members of his ethnic group, the Karanga, while Mujuru's supporters were largely Zezuru.<ref name=":37">{{Cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/Mugabe-promotes-hard-liner-20050412|title=Mugabe promotes hard liner|date=2005-04-12|work=News24|access-date=2018-10-23|language=en}}</ref>

At the ZANU–PF party congress held from 1–5 December 2004, Mujuru was named vice-president, while Moyo and other Mnangagwa proponents were disciplined.<ref name=":36" /> Moyo was removed from the cabinet and the politburu, and seven other party officials were penalized with suspensions, preventing them from running for Parliament in the upcoming elections.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":35" /><ref name=":36" /> Mnangagwa attempted to distance himself from the controversy, but nevertheless lost his title as [[ZANU–PF]]'s secretary for administration, an office he had held for four years and one that gave him the power to appoint his allies to important party positions.<ref name=":35" /><ref name=":36" /><ref name="chiefwhip">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/emmerson-mnangagwa-robert-mugabe-resigns-who-succeeds-zimbabwe-president-zanu-pf-crocodile-a8067796.html|title=Emmerson Mnangagwa: After Robert Mugabe resigns, who is the Zanu-PF politician favourite to succeed him as Zimbabwe President?|last=Mortimer|first=Caroline|date=21 November 2017|access-date=25 November 2017|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> In what was considered a demotion, he was given the less influential position of secretary for legal affairs instead.<ref name="chiefwhip" />

=== Minister of Rural Housing: 2005–2009 ===
In the [[2005 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|March 2005 parliamentary election]], Mnangagwa was again defeated by Blessing Chebundo in the Kwekwe constituency, this time with 46 percent of the votes to Chebundo's 54 percent.<ref name=":39" /><ref name="newsday2017-11-22a" /> Just as before, Mugabe appointed Mnangagwa to one of the unelected seats in Parliament.<ref name=":39" /><ref name=":37" /><ref name="newsday2017-11-22a">{{cite web|url=http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/mnangagwa-zimbabwes-president-in-waiting/ |title=Mnangagwa: Zimbabwe's President-in-waiting|date=22 November 2017|access-date=26 November 2017|author=Staff Reporter|work=Newsday Zimbabwe|publisher=Zimbabwe Situation|quote=In the March 2005 parliamentary election, he was again defeated by Chebundo in Kwekwe and Mugabe again appointed him a non-constituency MP. He was demoted to a lesser influential post of Rural Housing and Social Amenities minister in 2005 following the elevation of Joice Mujuru to the post of Vice-President.}}</ref> John Nkomo replaced Mnangagwa as Speaker of Parliament. In the new cabinet, Mugabe named Mnangagwa as [[Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Rural Housing and Social Amenities]].<ref name=":38">[http://www.sadocc.at/news/2005/2005-101.shtml "MP's sworn in, new ministers appointed"], SADOCC, 16 April 2005.</ref> This was widely seen as a demotion by Mugabe in retribution for Mnangagwa's involvement in the plot for him to become vice-president over Mujuru, the president's choice.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":38" />

In 2005, Mnangagwa helped carry out [[Operation Murambatsvina]], an initiative in which urban slums, home to many people who opposed Mugabe's rule, were destroyed, resulting in the homelessness of thousands of the urban poor.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/11/22/who-is-emmerson-the-crocodile-mnangagwa-mugabes-successor-in-zimbabwe/|title=Analysis {{!}} Who is Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe's successor in Zimbabwe?|last=Bearak|first=Max|date=22 November 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=25 November 2017|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> By 2007, Mnangagwa was reportedly back in Mugabe's favour, and the president was now said to be dismayed at the political activities of Mnangagwa's rival, Vice-President Mujuru, and her husband, former army chief [[Solomon Mujuru]].<ref name=":32" />

==== 2007 alleged coup d'état attempt ====
{{Main|2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt}}
In May 2007, the Zimbabwean government announced that it had foiled an alleged [[coup d'état]] involving nearly 400 soldiers and high-ranking members of the military that would have occurred on either 2 or 15 June 2007.<ref name="matapo" /><ref name="leaders" /><ref name="theplot" /> The alleged leaders of the coup, all of whom were arrested, were retired army Captain [[Albert Matapo]], army spokesman [[Ben Ncube]], Major General [[Engelbert Rugeje]], and Air Vice Marshal [[Elson Moyo]].<ref name="matapo">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article1940402.ece Coup 'plot' feeds Zimbabwe political tension], 16 June 2007. ''The Times''</ref><ref name="leaders">[http://allafrica.com/stories/200706141067.html Zimbabwe: Army investigates reports of coup plot], 14 June 2007. AllAfrica</ref><ref name="theplot">[http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/army22.16542.html Zimbabwe 'coup plotters' charged with treason] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413051940/http://newzimbabwe.com/pages/army22.16542.html |date=13 April 2014}}, 14 June 2007. AllAfrica</ref>

According to the government, the soldiers planned on forcibly removing Mugabe from the presidency and asking Mnangagwa to form a government with the heads of the armed forces.<ref name="matapo" /><ref name="mutasa" /> Reportedly, the government first learned of the plot when a former army officer in [[Paris]], [[France]], who opposed the coup contacted police and gave them a map and list of those involved.<ref name="matapo" /><ref name="mutasa" /> Mnangagwa said that he had no knowledge of the plot, and called it "stupid".<ref name="matapo" /><ref name="mutasa">[http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=311446&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/ Allegations of coup plot in Zimbabwe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210516/http://mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=311446&area=%2Fbreaking_news%2Fbreaking_news__africa%2F |date=3 March 2016}}, 15 June 2007. Mail and Guardian Online</ref> Some analysts speculated that rival potential successors to Mugabe, such as former ZANLA leader Solomon Mujuru, may have been behind the scheme in an attempt to discredit Mnangagwa, who had for a number of years been seen as Mugabe's likely successor.<ref name=":30" /><ref name="matapo" />

[[Treason]] charges were laid against Matapo and other alleged plotters, but no [[trial]] ever took place for lack of [[Evidence#Law|evidence]].<ref name="IrishExaminer2007-06-16a">{{cite web |date=16 June 2007 |title=Zimbabwe: Alleged coup plotters deny treason charges |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/zimbabwe-alleged-coup-plotters-deny-treason-charges-315240.html |access-date=24 November 2017 |work=Irish Examiner}}</ref><ref name="TheZimbabwean2014-09-03a" /> Nevertheless, Matapo and six others (not including Ncube, Rugeje, or Moyo) ended up spending seven years in [[Chikurubi Prison]] before being released in 2014.<ref name="TheZimbabwean2014-09-03a">{{cite web |url=http://www.thezimbabwean.co/2014/09/former-army-officer-breaks-silence/ |title=Former army officer breaks silence on coup accusations|author=Staff Reporter|work=The Zimbabwean|date=3 September 2014|access-date=16 November 2017 |quote=An army officer, who with six friends was abducted in May 2007 and ended up spending seven years in Chikurubi Prison, has broken his silence by speaking to The Zimbabwean this week. ... former Army Captain Albert Matapo ... and six others, Emmanuel Marara, Oncemore Mudzurahona, Partson Mupfure, Nyasha Zivuku, Rangarirai Mazivofa and Shingirai Webster Mutemachani, were abducted on May 29, 2007, at 108 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare, by people in plain clothes who identified themselves as CIO and army intelligence officers. ... 'We were abducted because we were in the process of forming a new political party which is now called United Crusade for Achieving Democracy (UCAD). ... Matapo said they were taken to an unknown destination where they suffered several forms of torture, including electrocution on the genitals. ... However, the treason trial did not commence due to lack of evidence and the seven men were released on March 1. ... They went ahead and formed their party, UCAD, which was launched on August 1 in Harare. ... 'There is no way normal people like us would remove Robert Mugabe and put Mnangagwa because they are one and the same. Mnangagwa can even be worse than Mugabe. ...' }}</ref> Matapo denied that he and the other accused plotters planning a coup, and said he had no interest in supporting Mnangagwa, whom he regarded as equally bad, if not worse, than Mugabe.<ref name="TheZimbabwean2014-09-03a" /> Instead, Matapo said that the group were simply trying to form a new political party, which they eventually did after their release from prison.<ref name="TheZimbabwean2014-09-03a" />

=== 2008 election and return to favour ===
In the [[2008 Zimbabwean general election|March 2008 parliamentary election]], Mnangagwa stood as ZANU–PF's candidate in the newly created [[Chirumanzu–Zibagwe]] constituency in rural [[Midlands Province]].<ref name=":39" /><ref name="Opts" /> He won by a wide margin, receiving 9,645 votes against two MDC candidates, Mudavanhu Masendeke and Thomas Michael Dzingisai, who respectively received 1,548 and 894 votes.<ref name=":39" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral203.17984.html|title=Zimbabwe election results 2008|date=1 April 2008|newspaper=New Zimbabwe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405183324/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/electoral203.17984.html|archive-date=5 April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mnangagwa was Mugabe's chief election agent during the [[2008 Zimbabwean general election|2008 presidential election]], and headed Mugabe's campaign behind the scenes.<ref name=":40">[http://allafrica.com/stories/200805090797.html "Mnangagwa Running Zanu PF Campaign"], ''Zimbabwe Independent'', 8 May 2008.</ref> Along with his team, Mnangagwa worked with party loyalists within the [[Joint Operations Command (Zimbabwe)|Joint Operations Command]] to ensure a Mugabe victory on election day.<ref name=":40" /> After Mugabe failed to win a majority in the initial vote, Mnangagwa organised a campaign of violence in the leadup to the [[Second round of voting in the 2008 Zimbabwean presidential election|second round of voting]] that caused opposition candidate [[Morgan Tsvangirai]] to withdraw from the election, securing Mugabe's continued rule.<ref name=":5" />

=== 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" />