Grace Mugabe Disappears …….

Harare – Zimbabwe’s former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking last week triggered the military takeover, has returned to the country, a senior aide told AFP on Friday.

“Yes, he is back,” said the aide, who declined to be named, adding that Mnangagwa, who is a potential successor to President Robert Mugabe, had returned on Thursday after nearly a week abroad.

In talks with the army chief on Thursday, Mugabe refused to resign, as sources suggested the veteran leader was “buying time” to negotiate his exit.

 VP MPhoko ArrestedConflicting reports have emerged as to Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s whereabouts with some claiming he is under house arrest in Chinhoyi and others saying he has tried to flee the country.

The latter reports say he flew to Japan after attending Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

Mphoko, the president’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao (public service minister) and foreign affairs minister Walter Mzembi are other members of the G40 faction strongly opposing the sacking of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa – which ignited the crisis.

Grace Mugabe vanishes

The president’s wife Grace Mugabe has disappeared with no confirmed reports of where she currently is.

Mandi Chimene Flees to China?

Rumour was this week rife that the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Mandi Chimene, had fled the country after the military this week rounded up what it described as criminals around President Mugabe. Chimene has been one of the vocal figures in calling for the purging of axed Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF politicians linked to the former VP.

However, it has since turned out that the Provincial Affairs minister is in China on the Zimbabwe-China Friendship Association business. When contacted yesterday, she said there was no need for her to flee the country as she had not committed any criminal offence.

“I will be back on Wednesday, November 23. Why should I skip the country I fought for? I have not committed any crime at all. I am a Zimbabwean and I am coming back home soonest. What exactly is happening? I am with the Manicaland delegation on the Zimbabwe-China Friendship Association business,” she said.