Zimbabwean president to reshuffle cabinet next week

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe has said he may reshuffle his Cabinet next week amid a deepening fallout between the two factions jostling to succeed him.

One of Mugabe’s deputy presidents, Emerson Mnangagwa, 76, has been heavily vilified by the President’s wife of plotting to overthrow the geriatric leader.

Speaking at his party’s youth meeting, Mugabe said: "Next week there might be some changes in government. Should we remain with the same team or we make changes or even discard some?"

Mnangagwa has long been viewed as Mugabe’s possible successor and he leads a faction known as Lacoste in the ruling Zimbabwe Africa National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).

"... early next week you will get the results," Mugabe said.

The world’s oldest head of state rarely changes his Cabinet and this time the changes come just ahead of elections next year.

Mugabe last reshuffled his cabinet in September 2015.

Reporting by Jeffrey Moyo; Writing by Servet Gunerigok;