Pressure rises on Mugabe to quit

Talk of President Robert Mugabe stepping down, mainly within VP Emmerson Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF faction, has been going on for several months.

There is now an upsurge of pressure with most officials indicating Mugabe is likely to have a reduced role or quit after completing his term as AU chairperson in January.

Pressure on Mugabe comes at a time when Mnangagwa is increasingly overseeing the day to day running of government.

Mnangagwa consolidated his grip on power after the Cabinet reshuffle which brought on board over 10 of his loyalist into government as ministers and deputy ministers.