Zim succession war: Veep Mujuru ousted

Zimbabwe's Vice President Joice Mujuru has been ousted from the ruling party's central committee after being accused of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.

A provincial executive committee refused to accept Mrs Mujuru's election papers ahead of a key Zanu-PF party congress next week after a campaign against her led by Mugabe's wife Grace.

Mrs Mujuru's home district rejected her application in elections that saw a number of other Zanu-PF bigwigs linked to what is being described as her nefarious activities to oust President Robert Mugabe also failing to make it.

Mrs Mujuru and the assumed powerful Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa were seen as the leading contenders to replace Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

Mrs Mujuru's failure to win a place in the central committee means she ceases to be in the party's top leadership even before the congress starts on December 3.

News 24