HARARE, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party has expelled former Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa following his dismissal from government early this week.
The former VP was vice president and second secretary of the ruling party and widely seen as a potential Mugabe successor.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe fired Mnangagwa on Monday for alleged indiscipline, disloyalty and deceitfulness.
ZANU-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told the media Wednesday night that party's politburo unanimously agreed to dismiss the former VP from the ruling party following recommendations for his expulsion from the party's 10 provinces, the women's and youth leagues.
"All the 10 provinces and the women's league as well as the youth league endorsed the expulsion of former Vice President Comrade E mmerson Mnangagwa as Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe by His Excellency Robert Mugabe," Moyo said.
Moyo said the politburo directed that the cases of party members identified as Mnangagwa's allies should be subjected to the national disciplinary committee for appropriate action in accordance with the constitution of the party.
Some of the alleged allies identified by provinces include big wigs such as Water and Climate Change minister Oppah Muchinguri, State Security minister Kembo Mohadi and Cyber Security minister Patrick Chinamasa.
The politburo also expelled a youth from Bulawayo Province who caused a scene at the Nov. 4 Presidential Youth Interface rally in Bulawayo when the First Lady Grace Mugabe was booed during her speech at the rally.
Meanwhile, Moyo said preparations for the extra-ordinary congress to be held from Dec. 12-17 in Harare were progressing well.
The congress is meant to re-affirm Mugabe, 93, as the party's candidate for the 2018 elections.
The congress will also amend the party's constitution to allow for the appointment of a female vice president.
