Zimbabwe's ruling party fires Mugabe

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party on Sunday recalled President Robert Mugabe from position of party leader, saying he must resign as president by noon Monday or impeachment proceedings will start.

The ruling party, at a special meeting of its central committee, also nullified expulsion of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa and restored him as member of the central committee.

The party's congress for next month will ratify appointment of Mnangagwa as president and first secretary of Zanu-PF.

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko was dismissed from position of vice president and second secretary of the party.

Mphoko, First Lady Grace Mugabe, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and National Housing Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Ignatius Chombo, Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Patrick Zhuwao are expelled from the party.

Secretary for Finance Overt Mpofu and minister of home affairs chaired the meeting. With 201 members attending, quorum needs 151 members for decisions to pass.

Already, all the 10 provincial branches of the party have passed a vote of no confidence in him, making Sunday's central committee meeting merely procedural.

Mugabe is due to meet Zimbabwe Defense Forces chief Constantine Chiwenga on Sunday, state broadcaster ZBC reported Saturday. This will be the second meeting between Mugabe and Chiwenga since the military took over government this week.