Mugabe decimates Mnangagwa faction

The Zanu-PF politburo yesterday descended heavily on Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Team Lacoste faction, expelling 16 of its key members while War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa and his wife Monica were suspended for three years.

Mutsvangwa, who sits in the politburo as deputy secretary for war veterans, was accused of undermining First Lady Grace Mugabe.

The Mutsvangwas are believed to be staunch supporters of Mnangagwa's faction, which is locked in a fierce succession battle against the G40, which Grace is said to belong to.

Yesterday's suspensions came as Mutsvangwa had reportedly met Mugabe and invited him to attend a war veterans meeting scheduled for next week and there were also reports relations between the two had improved following the President's public censure of the War Veterans' minister.