Mnangagwa says Mugabe is innocent..Blames Grace, G40

Emmerson Mnangagwa has said he was sacked as the country’s vice president last year by Grace Mugabe, using her influence on former president Robert Mugabe, whom he said was no longer in a position to lead the country.

Mnangagwa revealed this in a High Court application in which he challenged and sought nullification of his sacking from government last November.

“The purported dismissal was unlawful and unconstitutional on two fronts. To begin with, I was not purportedly dismissed at the pleasure of Robert Gabriel Mugabe. It was at the pleasure and instigation of Grace Mugabe and G40, a faction within Zanu-PF, that was fanning divisions and hate within the party and was controlling business of government and influencing …. Mugabe to act as they wished,” Mnangagwa said.

He said a few months before his sacking he had been vilified, demonised and reduced to nothing during rallies, addressed by Grace, who made public pronouncements that she was going to drop him from government.

“There has been numerous attempts on my life which manifested in the following: the placement of cyanide in my office, which resulted in the hospitalisation of my secretary, there have been several break-ins into my offices, I was poisoned on August 12, 2017, the day of the Gwanda youth interface rally, which resulted in my being air-lifted to South Africa for medical treatment, the medical results of which are now out and can be made available. The results are positive that I was poisoned,” he said.

He said his purported dismissal from office by Mugabe, was of no legal effect.

He accused Mugabe of abdicating on his duties by allowing his wife Grace to take over the functions of the President and Cabinet.

Chiweshe granted the order by consent, declaring Mnangagwa’s dismissal a nullity in a ruling handed down on 24 November. daily news