Women push for Mnangagwa ouster

The Zanu-PF women's and youth leagues are plotting to have Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa pushed out through this year's congress which they want to be elective, according to local media reports.

The daily NewsDay quoted an unnamed top Zanu-PF official saying the women's league and youth wing would meet on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The official said the women's league could meet at a farm belonging to Grace Mugabe, the president's wife and wing boss.

Grace is said to be fighting Mnangagwa, leader of the rival team Lacoste faction in Zanu-PF, and the generals who are reportedly keen to have Mugabe replaced before the 2018 elections, from the G40 base.

"Top of the agenda for both meetings will be mapping out the strategy for the upcoming conference and how to turn it into an extraordinary congress," the official was quoted as saying.

Kudzayi Chipanga, the youth wing deputy secretary, confirmed they would be a meeting, which he however said was routine.

"It is a routine meeting of the executive. Constitutionally, we are supposed to meet every three months," Chipanga said.

Mnangagwa is busy ducking blows from G40, following the expulsion from Zanu-PF of the current war veterans' leadership that recently openly defied Mugabe, calling him a dictator.

He has been publicly humiliated by junior party members and Mugabe has kept quiet.

Mugabe is insisting that he will run the 2018 presidential race despite growing disgruntlement with his age and reports of ill-health.

A strong military clique led by defence forces commander, Constantine Chiwenga, is reportedly fighting together with the current war veterans leadership to ensure Mnangagwa replaces Mugabe prior to polls.