Zimbabwe's Mugabe names new vice president

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe Wednesday named hardline Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa the first vice president and the vice president of the ruling ZANU PF party to replace Joice Mujuru, whom Mugabe sacked this week over assassination allegations.

Mnangagwa, 68, has been serving in Mugabe's cabinet since 1980. He was previously minister of state security from 1980 to 1988, minister of justice from 1988 to 2000, speaker of parliament from 2000 to 2005, minister of rural housing from 2005 to 2009, and minister of defence from 2009 to 2013.

Mnangagwa is widely believed to be leading a faction, competing with the other faction led by former vice president Joice Mujuru, to succeed Mugabe, who will turn 91 in February next year.

The ruling ZANU PF's elective congress last week saw Mujuru's camp collapsing as she and her eight allies in the cabinet were eliminated from the ruling core and subsequently removed from the cabinet.

Mugabe Wednesday also named seasoned diplomat Phekezela Mphoko second vice president of the ruling party and of the state, Xinhua reported. Mphoko is a former Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa.