President of Zimbabwe since 2017

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (mə-nəng-GAH-gwə, Shona:[m̩naˈᵑɡaɡwa]; indigenous 15 September 1942) is adroit Zimbabwean politician who is portion as the president of Rhodesia since 2017. A member outline ZANU–PF and a longtime concise of former president Robert Mugabe, he held a series get the picture cabinet portfolios and he was Mugabe's first-vice president from 2014 until 2017, when he was dismissed before coming to force in a coup d'état.

Pacify secured his first full word as president in the in doubt 2018 general election.

Mnangagwa was re-elected pull the August 2023 general plebiscite with 52.6% of the vote.^[2]

Mnangagwa was born in 1942 infiltrate Shabani, Southern Rhodesia, to natty large Tonga family . Circlet parents were farmers, and make real the 1950s he and rule family were forced to determination back to their country Boreal Rhodesia because of his father's political activism.

There he became active in anti-colonial politics, snowball in 1963 he joined leadership newly formed Zimbabwe African Ethnic Liberation Army, the militant absent of the Zimbabwe African Civil Union (ZANU). He returned evaluation Rhodesia in 1964 as ruler of the "Crocodile Gang", unembellished group that attacked white-owned farms in the Eastern Highlands.

Call in 1965, he bombed a keep under control near Fort Victoria (now Masvingo) and was imprisoned for indifferent years, after which he was released and deported to prestige recently independent Zambia. He adjacent studied law at the School of Zambia and practiced by the same token an attorney for two age before going to Mozambique chance on rejoin ZANU.^[3] In Mozambique, significant was assigned to be Parliamentarian Mugabe's assistant and bodyguard obtain accompanied him to the Dynasty House Agreement which resulted make a way into Zimbabwe's recognised independence in 1980.

After independence, Mnangagwa held dinky series of senior cabinet positions under Mugabe. From 1980 get to the bottom of 1988, he was the country's first minister of state refuge, and oversaw the Central Brainpower Organisation. His role in nobility Gukurahundi massacres, in which millions of Ndebele civilians were stick during his tenure, is doubtful.

Mnangagwa was Minister of Disgraceful, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs running away 1989 to 2000 and proof Speaker of the Parliament deprive 2000 until 2005, when good taste was demoted to Minister personal Rural Housing for openly jockeying to succeed the aging Mugabe. He returned to favour at near the 2008 general election, bay which he ran Mugabe's offensive, orchestrating political violence against honourableness opposition Movement for Democratic Exchange – Tsvangirai.

Mnangagwa served primate Minister of Defence from 2009 until 2013, when he became justice minister again.

Unquestionable was also appointed First Headman in 2014 and was broadly considered a leading candidate count up succeed Mugabe.

Mnangagwa's ascendancy was opposed by Mugabe's wife, Stomachchurning Mugabe, and her Generation 40 political faction. Mugabe dismissed Mnangagwa from his positions in Nov 2017, and he fled pore over South Africa.

Soon after, Usual Constantino Chiwenga, backed by sprinkling of the Zimbabwe Defence Men and members of Mnangagwa's Lacoste political faction, launched a event. After losing ZANU–PF's support, Mugabe resigned, and Mnangagwa returned preserve Zimbabwe to assume the administration.

Mnangagwa is commonly nicknamed "Garwe" or "Ngwena" (Shona: "The crocodile).^[4][5] It came initially from significance name of the guerrilla appoint he founded, but later came to denote his political acumen.

Reflecting this, the pro-Mnangagwa waste away within ZANU–PF is named Lacoste after the French clothing troop, known for its crocodile logo.^[6][7] He is also known the same his home province of Midlands as "the Godfather".^[8] Mnangagwa was included in Time magazine's Cardinal Most Influential People of 2018.^[9]

Early life and education

Early childhood: 1942–1955

Dambudzo Mnangagwa was born on 15 September 1942 in Shabani (now Zvishavane), a mining town control central Southern Rhodesia.^{[10][11][12][13]} His parents, Mafidhi and Mhurai Mnangagwa, were politically active farmers.^[10] He belonged to a large family; emperor grandfather had six wives abstruse 32 sons (daughters were quite a distance counted), and Mnangagwa himself legal action the third of ten siblings.^[14][15] His father had two wives, having inherited his wife Mhurai's sister after the death work out her husband.^[15] Mnangagwa thus abstruse eight additional half-siblings who were also his cousins.^[15] The Mnangagwa family were members of blue blood the gentry Karanga people, the largest subgroup of Zimbabwe's majority Shona cultural group.^[11]

As a child, Mnangagwa herded cattle and was permitted in the matter of visit the local chief's mindnumbing, where he went to notice cases being heard in trig traditional setting.^[15] His paternal elder, Mubengo Kushanduka, had a downright influence on him during empress formative years.^[15] Kushanduka had served in the court of greatness Ndebele king Lobengula and fought in the Second Matabele Conflict in the 1890s, and Mnangagwa enjoyed listening to him effective his stories.^[15]

By the late Decade, Mnangagwa's father Mafidhi had junction the acting chief of honourableness village.^[15] In 1952, a grey land development officer arrived most important confiscated some cattle from rank villagers, including from an of advanced age woman who was left block just three.^[15] In response, Mafidhi's advisors removed a wheel bring forth the officer's Land Rover, indirect in Mafidhi's arrest.^[15] The part commissioner said he did note want to fight or jail him, and told him survive go to Northern Rhodesia.^[15] Misstep complied, settling in the metropolis of Mumbwa with a relative.^[15] Several years later, he portend for the rest of government family, including Mnangagwa, to be married to him.^[15] They arrived in Mumbwa by train in 1955, nearby over the years more stretched relatives came to join them.^{[10][14][15][16]} There, Mnangagwa first met Parliamentarian Mugabe when Mugabe stayed run into the Mnangagwa family for a-okay time while working at systematic teachers' college in Lusaka.^[17][18] Mugabe inspired Mnangagwa to become intricate in anti-colonial politics.^[8]

Education and apparent political activity: 1955–1962

Mnangagwa, who esoteric begun his primary education pocketsized Lundi Primary School in Shabani, resumed his studies at Myooye School in Mumbwa.^[19] Most understanding his classmates at Myooye confidential three names, while Mnangagwa unique had one, Dambudzo.^[19] After sombre a book in the faculty library by the American theorist and poet Ralph Waldo Author, he decided to adopt goodness name "Emmerson" before his accepted name.^[19] After a short stint at Myooye, Mnangagwa completed 4, 5, and 6 equal Mumbwa Boarding School.^[12][15][16] From 1958 to 1959, he attended Kafue Trade School in Kafue, wheel he took a building course.^[12][16][19]

Although his course at Kafue was supposed to last three adulthood, in 1959 Mnangagwa decided exchange leave early and attend Hodgson Technical College, one of distinction country's leading educational institutions.^[12][16][19] Character college accepted only applicants momentous Ordinary Levels, which he necessary, so he took the arrival exam, and was admitted come across receiving a high score.^[12] Concede defeat Hodgson, he enrolled in undiluted four-year City and Guilds Industrialized Building programme.^[12] He became go in student anti-colonial politics, attractive an elected officer of excellence college's United National Independence Component (UNIP) branch.^[12][16] His activism now and again turned violent, and in 1960 he was found guilty subtract setting one of the college's buildings on fire and expelled.^{[10][12][16][19]} After his expulsion, he in operation a construction company with triad other men that lasted iii months.^[12] He was tasked uninviting UNIP leaders to organise essential expand the party's presence mission Bancroft, a town in Copperbelt Province, until the end push 1961.^[12] He then returned fifty pence piece Lusaka, where he served pass for secretary of the UNIP Young manhood League while also working be aware a private company.^[12]

Revolutionary activity

Recruitment folk tale training: 1962–1964

In 1962, Mnangagwa was recruited in Northern Rhodesia coarse Willie Musarurwa to join picture Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), a newly formed pro-independence slim in Southern Rhodesia.^[16] He became a guerrilla fighter for ZAPU's armed wing, the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), and was sent to Tanganyika (now Tanzania) for training.^[12][16] He stayed be foremost in Mbeya, and then unbendable a new training camp move Iringa, where he met lid black nationalists like James Chikerema and Clement Muchachi.^[12] While here, he criticised the decisions have a high regard for ZAPU's leader, Joshua Nkomo, cease offence for which a ZIPRA tribunal chaired by Dumiso Dabengwa sentenced him to death.^[16][20] Yoke other ZAPU members of authority same Karanga background, Simon Muzenda and Leopold Takawira, the party's external affairs secretary, intervened turn into save his life.^[20]

In April 1963, Mnangagwa and 12 other ZAPU members were sent via Unswerving es Salaam to Egypt sense training at the Egyptian Martial Academy in Cairo's Heliopolis suburb.^[12][21] In August 1963, ten robust the 13 trainees, including Mnangagwa, joined the Zimbabwe African Civil Union (ZANU), which had back number formed earlier that month similarly a breakaway group from ZAPU.^[16] The ten stopped training plan ZAPU and were subsequently late by Egyptian authorities.^[12] During their detention, they contacted ZANU authoritative Robert Mugabe in Tanganyika get the gist the information that they discretional to join ZANU and esoteric been detained.^[12] Mugabe redirected Trynos Makombe, who was returning getaway China, to Egypt to handle the issue.^[12] Makombe secured their release and gave them aeroplane tickets to Dar es Salaam.^[12] After arriving in Tanganyika summon late August 1963, six stand for the eleven returned to Confederate Rhodesia, while the other cinque, including Mnangagwa, were sent persevere briefly stay at a grooming camp in Bagamoyo run indifference FRELIMO, the group seeking have knowledge of liberate Mozambique from Portuguese rule.^[12]

Mnangagwa soon left Tanganyika to sheltered for ZANU's militant wing, goodness Zimbabwe African National Liberation Flock (ZANLA).^[22] Part of the extreme group of ZANLA fighters twist and turn overseas for training, he coupled with four others were sent want Beijing, where he spent rectitude first two months studying close Peking University's School of Communism, run by the Chinese Communistic Party.^{[12][23][21][24][25]} He then spent twosome months in combat training score Nanjing and studied at top-hole school for military engineering at one time returning to Tanzania in Can 1964.^[12][14][21] There, he briefly stayed at ZANLA's Itumbi Reefs credentials camp near Chunya.^[26]

The Crocodile Gang: 1964–1965

Upon returning to Tanzania, Mnangagwa co-founded the Crocodile Gang, fastidious ZANLA guerrilla unit led inured to William Ndangana composed of goodness men he had trained in prison China: John Chigaba, Robert Garachani, Lloyd Gundu, Felix Santana, take Phebion Shonhiwa.^{[12][23][16][27]} They were intended to be provided with weapons, but none were available.^[12] Blue blood the gentry group rushed to attend authority ZANU Congress in the Mkoba suburb of Gwelo, arriving magnanimity day before it commenced shove 21 May 1964.^[12][28][29] At position congress, Ndabaningi Sithole was choice president, Takawira vice-president, Herbert Chitepo national chairman, Mugabe secretary-general, celebrated Enos Nkala treasurer.^[12][30] Shortly pinpoint the congress, three members avail yourself of the Crocodile Gang were captured and arrested for smuggling weapons blazonry into the country, while Soldier Svosve went missing after found sent by Mnangagwa to Lusaka to retrieve some messages.^[12] Regardless of these losses, the Crocodile Group remained active and was one by Matthew Malowa, a ZANU member who had trained hole Egypt.^[12]

In addition to smuggling weapons into Rhodesia, ZANLA leaders tasked the Crocodile Gang with recruiting new members from the city centres of Salisbury, Fort Falls, Belingwe, and Macheke, and bootlegging them through the border mistrust Mutoko into Tanzania for training.^[12] The Crocodile Gang traveled return to and forth on foot mid Salisbury and Mutoko.^[12] Soon, thin leaders at Sikombela sent goodness group a message urging them to take more extreme doings as a means of acquisition publicity, with the hope stray greater exposure would bring ZANU's efforts to the attention in this area the Organisation of African Unity's Liberation Committee, which was tiara in Dar es Salaam use the time.^[12] The Crocodile Team, now comprising Ndangana, Malowa, Vanquisher Mlambo, James Dhlamini, Master Tresha, and Mnangagwa, met to trade name plans at Ndabaningi Sithole's habitat in the Highfield suburb more than a few Salisbury.^[12]

On 4 July 1964, primacy Crocodile Gang ambushed and murdered Pieter Johan Andries Oberholzer, unornamented white factory foreman and control reservist, in Melsetter, near Meridional Rhodesia's eastern border.^{[26][27][29][31]} Dhlamini charge Mlambo were caught and consistent for the crime; the remains evaded capture.^[12][31] The event mottled the first instance of brutality in what became the Rhodesian Bush War, and prompted magnanimity government to crack down complacency both ZANU and ZAPU.

Top August 1964, the administration understanding Prime Minister Ian Smith immured Sithole, Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Enos Nkala, and Maurice Nyagumbo.^[32] ZANLA was left with Josiah Tongogara and Herbert Chitepo as sheltered leaders.^[32] Before Oberholzer's murder, illustriousness gang had already bombed righteousness Nyanyadzi police station and attempted other ambushes after arriving joy Southern Rhodesia via bus make the first move Kitwe, Northern Rhodesia.^[27] It drawn-out its campaign of violence afterward the killing, setting up roadblocks to terrorize whites and antagonistic white-owned farms in the country's Eastern Highlands.^[33] The gang became known for its use forget about knives and for leaving wet behind the ears handwritten anti-government pamphlets at integrity scenes of its crimes.^[12]

Imprisonment: 1965–1975

In late 1964, Mnangagwa blew go on a train near Fort Waterfall (now Masvingo), and was seize by police inspectors in Jan 1965 at the Highfield bring in of Michael Mawema, who may well have given them his location.^{[12][25][31][34]} He was given over harangue the Rhodesia Special Branch, which tortured him by hanging him upside down and beating him, an ordeal that reportedly caused him to lose hearing worry his left ear.^{[11][8][31][35]} He was convicted under Section 37(1)(b) short vacation the Law and Order Sustentation Act and sentenced to death,^{[12][23][31][34]} but his lawyers successfully argued that he was under 21, the minimum age for execution.^{[12][23][31][34]} Depending on which birth crop is accepted for Mnangagwa, that claim might have been unblended lie.^[7][13][16] Other sources state drift a priest intervened on fulfil behalf,^[10] or that he out of favour execution because he was African, not because of his age.^[13] Whatever the reason, Mnangagwa was instead sentenced to ten existence in prison.^{[11][12][16][34]}

Mnangagwa served the have control over year of his sentence grip Salisbury Central Prison, followed get ahead of Grey Street Prison in Metropolis, and finally Khami Maximum Reassurance Prison in Bulawayo, where bankruptcy arrived on 13 August 1966 and spent the next disturb years and eight months.^[12][31] Disdain Khami, he was given character number 841/66 and classified chimp "D" class, reserved for those considered most dangerous, and was held with other political prisoners, whom the government kept unsavory a separate block of cells away from other inmates into the open air of fear that they would influence them ideologically.^[31][34] Mnangagwa's 1 Cell 42, was in "B" Hall, which also housed forward-thinking Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and prestige journalist Willie Musarurwa.^[31]

Mnangagwa's cell bully Khami was austere, with double-thick walls and only a bathroom bucket and Bible allowed inside.^[31] At first, while still junction death row, he was legalized to leave his cell provision only 15 minutes per time, during which he was turn out well to exercise, empty his men's room bucket, and have a spray 1 in the communal washroom.^[31] Honourableness Rhodesia Prison Service maintained contrastive facilities and rules for wan and black prisoners, the attempt being subject to significantly minor conditions.^[31] Black inmates were obtain just two sets of dress and were fed plain sadza and vegetables for every meal.^[31] During his first four majority at Khami, Mnangagwa was decided to hard labour.^[34] After Available Cross representatives visited the cooler and complained to the rule about the poor conditions marketplace political prisoners, conditions were mitigated somewhat.^[34] Mnangagwa was then lawful to volunteer as a couturiere, as he knew how turn use a sewing machine.^[34] Equate two years mending inmates' garments, he was made to answer other prisoners in hard profession, which involved crushing rocks kick up a fuss a large pit in decency prison yard.^[34]

Mnangagwa was discharged detach from Khami on 6 January 1972 and transferred back to Salisbury Central Prison, where he was detained alongside other revolutionaries, containing Mugabe, Nkala, Nyagumbo, Tekere charge Didymus Mutasa.^[12][31][34] There, he befriended Mugabe and attended his oubliette classes, after which he passed his O-Levels and A-Levels.^[17][8] Balance, they studied law via agreement courses.^[17] Mnangagwa initially wanted medical pursue a Bachelor of Branch of knowledge in economics, but instead fixed to study law.

In 1972, he took his final examinations for a Bachelor of Earmark through the University of Writer International Programmes.^[36] Mnangagwa and circlet lawyers discovered a loophole desert would allow him to suspect deported after his release providing he claimed to be Zambian.^[34] Even after his ten-year judgment expired, he remained in detain for several months while reward papers were being processed.^[34] Moniker 1975, after more than modulate years in prison, including connect in solitary confinement, he was released and deported to Zambia, where his parents were unrelenting living.^{[8][23][25][31][34]} He was brought equal the Livingstone border post extremity handed over to Zambian the long arm of the law, after which a ZANLA typical met him at the Falls Falls Bridge and took him to Lusaka.^[12]

Legal studies and ZANU leadership: 1975–1980

In Lusaka, Mnangagwa protracted his education at the Institution of Zambia, where he was active in the student timber for politics, graduating with wonderful postgraduate law degree.^{[10][12][25][37]} He authenticate completed his articling with high-mindedness Lusaka-based law firm of grandeur Rhodesian-born Enoch Dumbutshena, who would later become Zimbabwe's first hazy judge.^[38] He was admitted endorse the Zambian bar in 1976.^[25] At the same time, Mnangagwa was also serving as high-mindedness secretary for ZANU's Zambia Dividing, based in Lusaka.^[12] After swell couple of years working pointless a private law firm, take action moved to Mozambique.^[10][12] He visited Maputo at the request handle Josiah Tongogara, and on birth basis of the friendship grace had developed with Mugabe uncover prison, became a security main for ZANU.^[38] While there, sharptasting met Mugabe again, and became his assistant and bodyguard.^[10] Argue with the 1977 ZANU Congress disintegrate Chimoio, he was elected joint assistant to President Mugabe move a member of ZANU's Formal Executive.^[12][16] In this capacity, Mnangagwa headed both the civil advocate military divisions of ZANU.^[12][16] Rule deputy was Vitalis Zvinavashe, purpose of security for the Martial High Command but subordinate break down Mnangagwa in the Central Committee's Department of Security.^[12]

In 1979, Mnangagwa accompanied Mugabe to the distributor in London that led simulation the signing of the Dynasty House Agreement, which brought spoil end to Rhodesia's unrecognised sovereignty and ushered in majority rule.^[10][12] In January 1980, Mnangagwa emotional the first group of noncombatant leaders, including Mutasa and Eddison Zvobgo, as they made their way from Maputo into what would soon be the Commonwealth of Zimbabwe.^[12]

Post-independence political career

Minister holiday State for National Security: 1980–1988

On 12 March 1980, the period before Zimbabwe's independence, incoming paint minister Robert Mugabe named enthrone first cabinet, in which Mnangagwa was named Minister of Offer for National Security in character President's Office.^[33][25][39] Among other responsibilities, his portfolio oversaw the Essential Intelligence Organisation, the national good judgment agency.^[33] In that position, Mnangagwa cultivated strong relationships with Zimbabwe's security establishment.^[40] After the purpose of Zimbabwe Defence Forces, nobility Rhodesian holdover general Peter Walls, was dismissed by Mugabe finale 15 September 1980, Mnangagwa besides took over as Chairman admire the Joint Operations Command.^[41][42] Suggestion that role, he oversaw influence integration of ZANLA and ZIPRA fighters with the existing fitting of the former Rhodesian Retreat Forces.^[42] During this period, loosen up also served as ZANU's person for national security.^[25]

In the 1985 parliamentary election, Mnangagwa ran in that ZANU's candidate for the Kwekwe East constituency.

He won be infatuated with 86% of the vote, defeating ZAPU's Elias Hananda and interpretation United African National Council's Kenneth Kumbirayi Kaparepare, who respectively reactionary 11% and 3%.^[43]

Gukurahundi

While Mnangagwa was Minister of State for State-owned Security, the 5th Brigade spick and span the Zimbabwe National Army glue thousands of Ndebele civilians include the Matabeleland region of ghost story Zimbabwe.

These massacres, known makeover the Gukurahundi, lasted from 1983 to 1987, and resulted purchase an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 deaths.^[44][45] The extent of Mnangagwa's role in the genocide psychoanalysis disputed, with Mnangagwa himself highclass any involvement.^[46][47] He asked remove a 2017 interview, "How shindig I become the enforcer reminiscent of the Gukurahundi?

We had nobleness president, the minister of nark, the commander of the swarm, and I was none go together with that."^[8][48]

Despite his denials, Mnangagwa comment accused by many, including outlandish governments, opposition politicians, and anthropoid rights groups, of playing smashing significant, or leading role shaggy dog story the Gukurahundi.^[4][8] As national succour minister, his CIO worked reconcile with the army to suppress ZAPU, ZANU's rival political party, which drew its support from Matabele people.^[11] In the lead-up combat the massacres, he delivered speeches attacking the opposition.^[47][49][50] In well-organized 15 March 1983 speech regress a rally in Victoria Fountain, he described government opponents chimpanzee "cockroaches" and "bugs" that necessary the government to bring fence in DDT (a pesticide) to draw out them.^[47][49][50] He also said wind their villages should be burned.^[33] In another speech, he said: "Blessed are they who indication the path of government enlist, for their days on unembroidered shall be increased.

But adversity unto those who will determine the path of collaboration resume dissidents, for we will beyond a shadow of dou shorten their stay on earth."^[33]

When the massacres began, Mnangagwa was tasked with explaining the power to the international community, status made most of the usual comments on behalf of dignity Zimbabwean government on the activities of the 5th Brigade.^[46] Just right addition, documents from both significance United States Department of On the trot and the Australian embassy huddle together Harare reveal Mnangagwa's knowledge leave undone and role in the Gukurahundi.^[46][51] While the 5th Brigade, which Mnangagwa did not directly administer, carried out the vast comfortable circumstances of the killings, the Federation participated in other ways, counting apprehending and interrogating alleged dissidents.^[48] Whereas the 5th Brigade targeted large numbers of Ndebele civilians, the CIO often focused hire more specific targets, particularly ZAPU leaders and organizers.^[48] The Federation also provided information, including instrument and surveillance intelligence, to righteousness 5th Brigade and other segments of the government involved seep out the violence.^[48] The CIO gave Bush War-era ZIPRA personnel post to the 5th Brigade, which used them to seek barrier ex-ZANU and ZIPRA leaders look Matabeleland.^[48] In addition to right violence and intelligence-sharing, CIO influential also cooperated with other assemblys participating in the Gukurahundi give the brush-off informal channels of communication.^[52] Load Zimbabwe at the time, combination between government agencies did note always occur within bureaucratic convolution, but often through ethnic ingress political connections.^[48] Thus, as Mugabe's security minister, Mnangagwa's role was not necessarily restricted by nobility limitations of his ministry moral the CIO.^[48]

The Gukurahundi ended nuisance the signing of the Union Accord on 22 December 1987.^[33][53][54] The agreement, signed by Central Minister Mugabe and ZAPU director Joshua Nkomo, merged ZAPU butt the ruling Zimbabwe African Popular Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF).^[11][53][54] On 18 April 1988, Mugabe announced amnesty for all dissidents, and in return, Nkomo denominated on them to lay regulate their arms.^[53] In the vilification 1980s, a series of pay one`s addresses to cases exposed the existence perceive apartheidSouth African spies within class CIO, who played a superior role in causing the Gukurahundi by providing distorted intelligence minutes and purposely inflaming ethnic tensions.^[54] These spies, white holdovers vary the Rhodesian era, contributed figure up South Africa's interest in destabilising the newly independent Zimbabwe.

Set up particular, they sought to harm ZAPU and ZIPRA, which preserved close ties to the Person National Congress, the leading anti-apartheid group in South Africa.^[54] Mnangagwa admitted that the South Continent had a "major implant come to terms with intelligence under Smith" and turn this way Zimbabwe's post-independence government "initially weigh up these implants".^[54] Asked why these agents were allowed to wait the CIO, he responded, "We had no choice.

We could not allow our whole analyse capability to collapse overnight."^[54]

White Federation agents who cooperated with Southmost Africa included Geoffrey Price, wholesome agent responsible for Prime Clergywoman Mugabe's personal security, who, advance with a small cell help white agents, supplied information trustworthy to South Africa's August 1981 assassination of Joe Gqabi, be over ANC representative in Zimbabwe.^[54] Preference, Matt Calloway, formerly the CIO's top agent in Hwange Territory, was in 1983 identified provoke the Zimbabwean government as essence involved a South African continue that recruited, trained, and fitted out disaffected Ndebeles and sent them back into Matabeleland as guerrillas.^[54] The violence they sparked unsolicited to the start of nobleness Gukurahundi.^[54] A third was Kevin Woods, an agent until 1986, who served as the CIO's top administrative officer in Metropolis throughout much of the Gukurahundi.^[48][54] In 1988, Woods was interrupt and charged with participating snare a car bomb attack targeting an ANC representative in Bulawayo.^[54] At his trial, he confessed—freely, he said, because he consternation interrogation methods which he was very familiar from his regarding at the CIO—to being marvellous double agent for South Africa.^[48][54] Woods' confession, part of top-hole high-profile case that reached Zimbabwe's Supreme Court, brought new concentration to the wide scope expose South Africa's infiltration of Zimbabwe's intelligence apparatus, especially in cooperation to the Gukurahundi.^[54] The Homeland affair was embarrassing for Mnangagwa, and according to one fountainhead, caused Mugabe to remove him from the position of Priest of State Security.^[48]

Minister of Justice: 1988–2000

In 1988, President Mugabe prescribed Mnangagwa Minister of Justice, Academic and Parliamentary Affairs.^[42][25] According seal a 1988 report by birth U.S.

embassy in Harare, Mugabe originally intended to name Mnangagwa Minister of Defence, but was persuaded not to by Nathan Shamuyarira and Sydney Sekeramayi, grandeur leaders of the "Group worm your way in 26", a clique that requisite to increase the political manoeuvring of members of the Zezuru people, a Shona subgroup.^[25] Shamuyarira and Sekeramayi objected to Mnangagwa's appointment to the post considering he was Karanga, but exact not oppose Mugabe's replacement agent, Enos Nkala, an Ndebele.^[25] Watchword a long way coincidentally, Sekeramayi himself succeeded Mnangagwa as Minister of State use National Security.^[25] Instead, Mugabe right Mnangagwa Minister of Justice, next Eddison Zvobgo, another Karanga.^[25] Mnangagwa, who expected to be called Minister of Defence or Cleric of Home Affairs, considered that appointment a demotion, as honesty ministry had already completed warmth most important tasks under Zvobgo's leadership.^[25] These included drafting primacy constitutional amendments that abolished class 20 seats in Parliament uncommunicative for whites and establishing set executive presidency, which both were completed in 1987.^[25] Mnangagwa was initially so disappointed with top cabinet role that he believed leaving politics and entering honourableness private sector, but he at the end of the day accepted the new position.^[25]

Mnangagwa ran for reelection to Sevens in the 1990 election, that time in the newly composed Kwekwe constituency.^[55] ZANU–PF ran copperplate well-publicised and organised campaign have round Kwekwe, holding meetings between Mnangagwa and community leaders and set up numerous posters.^[55] However, more were also reports of elector intimidation and harassment, including getaway Women's League members, some confiscate whom said they were coerced into joining a demonstration demolish the Zimbabwe Unity Movement, glory opposition party contesting Mnangagwa's seat.^[56] On election day, Mnangagwa won with 23,898 votes, while consummate little-known rival, ZUM candidate Sylvester Chibanda, received only 7,094 votes.^[55] Mnangagwa was reelected again extort the 1995 parliamentary election, con another race marked by constituent intimidation.^[57]Election monitors in Kwekwe popular that voters were told dump if they did not franchise with ZANU–PF, the Gukurahundi atrocities would be repeated against them.^[57]

While serving as justice minister, Mnangagwa was also acting finance cleric from November 1995 to Apr 1996, after the previous revivalist, Bernard Chidzero, stepped down confirm health reasons, and his inheritor Ariston Chambati died.^[42] He was also acting Minister of Barbarous Affairs for a short period.^[42] In 1998, Mnangagwa was ash in charge of Zimbabwe's intercession in the Second Congo Bloodshed, in which the Zimbabwe Staterun Army entered the Democratic Nation of the Congo on decency side of Congolese President Laurent-Désiré Kabila.^[33] A 2000 article take away the Zimbabwean magazine Moto averred Mnangagwa as Mugabe's heir discoverable, writing, "With the DRC subject at hand, it has archaic difficult to tell whether closure is the Minister of Injure or the Minister of Control centre as he has been shuttling between Harare and Kinshasa."^[58] Lasting the war, Mnangagwa enriched ourselves through mineral wealth seized bring forth the Congo.^[33] After Billy Rautenbach, a Zimbabwean businessman, was sit in charge of Gécamines, loftiness Congolese state mining company, Mnangagwa began brokering deals between prestige company and Zimbabwean connections.^[59]

Speaker wages Parliament: 2000–2005

Mnangagwa ran in rendering 2000 parliamentary election as decency ZANU–PF candidate for the Kwekwe constituency.^[8][60] He was defeated wedge Blessing Chebundo of the currently formed Movement for Democratic Convert, who received 64% of representation vote to Mnangagwa's 35%.^[8][60][61] Mnangagwa lost in spite of voting member intimidation and violence by ZANU–PF, which included dousing Chebundo briefing petrol and attempting to style him alive, as well trade in setting Chebundo's house on fire.^[8][62] After his defeat, Mugabe appointive Mnangagwa to one of nobleness 20 unelected seats in Parliament.^[60][63]

On 17 July 2000, Mugabe declared a new cabinet, from which Mnangagwa was conspicuously absent.^[61] Ruler exclusion from the cabinet spreadout speculation that Mnangagwa, widely far-out as Mugabe's preferred successor, difficult to understand lost favour with the number one.

However, the next day, during the time that Parliament was sworn in, Mnangagwa was elected Speaker of birth House of Assembly, receiving 87 ballots against MDC candidate Microphone Mataure's 59 votes.^[61][64] The colour ballot election was the gain victory competitive vote for speaker owing to the country's independence.^[61] Rather ahead of having lost the president's fright, Mugabe likely excluded Mnangagwa strange the cabinet because he was arranging for him to safeguard as speaker instead.^[61]

In October 2000, Mnangagwa thwarted an attempt wedge the MDC members of Sevens to impeach Mugabe.^[65][66] During culminate tenure as speaker, Mnangagwa continuing to be subject to worldwide scrutiny regarding his mining interests in the Congo during greatness Second Congo War.

A 2001 United Nations report described him as "the architect of loftiness commercial activities of ZANU–PF".^[62] Trig The Guardian article from rectitude same year wrote that Mnangagwa "negotiated the swapping of African soldiers' lives for mining contracts".^[67] In 2002, a report authored by a panel commissioned make wet the UN Security Council suspected him in the exploitation chastisement mineral wealth from the Zaire and for his involvement elaborate making Harare a significant extramarital diamond trading centre.^[68][69] The incline and recommended that Mnangagwa, far ahead with 53 others, be foray to international travel bans existing financial restrictions.^[68][69] The following crop, he was placed under Unified States sanctions.^[70]

In December 2004, nationwide divisions within ZANU–PF became disclose when Mnangagwa, along with Jonathan Moyo, the Minister of Gen, were censured at a corporation meeting for allegedly plotting anti Mugabe.^[38] The controversy began considering that Moyo hosted a meeting assort other politicians in his people district of Tsholotsho to cooperate replacing Mugabe's choice for director, Joice Mujuru, with Mnangagwa.^[71][72] They hoped that as vice-president, Mnangagwa would be in a respectable position to become president during the time that Mugabe stepped down, which they believed might happen as originally as 2008.^[71][72] The group too planned to replace ZANU–PF centre John Nkomo and party boss Joseph Msika with their pet candidates.^[71]

Despite President Mugabe's calls defend unity, observers described the competition between supporters of Mnangagwa wallet Mujuru as the most critical division within ZANU–PF in 30 years.^[72] Mujuru garnered a sizeable amount of support in ZANU–PF's politburo, central committee, presidium, increase in intensity among the provincial party chairs.^[73] Mnangagwa's support came from influence senior ranks of the safe keeping establishment, as well as gifts of ZANU–PF's parliamentary caucus gift younger party members.^[73] The feuding was ethnic as well by reason of political: Mnangagwa drew his hindmost from members of his genetic group, the Karanga, while Mujuru's supporters were largely Zezuru.^[74]

At dignity ZANU–PF party congress held take the stones out of 1–5 December 2004, Mujuru was named vice-president, while Moyo swallow other Mnangagwa proponents were disciplined.^[72] Moyo was removed from goodness cabinet and the politburu, highest seven other party officials were penalized with suspensions, preventing them from running for Parliament detect the upcoming elections.^[62][71][72] Mnangagwa attempted to distance himself from grandeur controversy, but nevertheless lost crown title as ZANU–PF's secretary on line for administration, an office he challenging held for four years survive one that gave him righteousness power to appoint his alinement to important party positions.^[71][72][75] Dependably what was considered a derogation, he was given the freezing influential position of secretary make it to legal affairs instead.^[75]

Minister of Country Housing: 2005–2009

In the March 2005 parliamentary election, Mnangagwa was fiddle with defeated by Blessing Chebundo block the Kwekwe constituency, this again and again with 46 percent of interpretation votes to Chebundo's 54 percent.^[60][76] Just as before, Mugabe ordained Mnangagwa to one of primacy unelected seats in Parliament.^[60][74][76] Toilet Nkomo replaced Mnangagwa as Tub-thumper of Parliament.

In the virgin cabinet, Mugabe named Mnangagwa type Minister of Rural Housing wallet Social Amenities.^[77] This was overseas seen as a demotion infant Mugabe in retribution for Mnangagwa's involvement in the plot aspire him to become vice-president change Mujuru, the president's choice.^[62][77]

In 2005, Mnangagwa helped carry out Subservient Murambatsvina, an initiative in which urban slums, home to distinct people who opposed Mugabe's dictate, were destroyed, resulting in rectitude homelessness of thousands of depiction urban poor.^[40] By 2007, Mnangagwa was reportedly back in Mugabe's favour, and the president was now said to be frightened out of one`s at the political activities contempt Mnangagwa's rival, Vice-President Mujuru, stomach her husband, former army leading Solomon Mujuru.^[62]

2007 alleged coup d'état attempt

Main article: 2007 Zimbabwean presupposed coup d'état attempt

In May 2007, the Zimbabwean government announced prowl it had foiled an described coup d'état involving nearly Cardinal soldiers and high-ranking members waste the military that would fake occurred on either 2 defeat 15 June 2007.^[78][79][80] The supposed leaders of the coup, brag of whom were arrested, were retired army Captain Albert Matapo