Key players in post-coup Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s army appears to be lining up a government of national unity, headed by former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, following the resignation of Robert Mugabe after 37 years in power


Possible posts

President

EMMERSON MNANGAGWA 
Lifelong Mugabe aide and 1970s liberation war veteran known as “The Crocodile”
Mnangagwa’s sacking as vice-president cleared path for Mugabe’s wife, Grace to presidency
and appears to have been trigger for army takeover

Vice-president

GENERAL CONSTANTINO CHIWENGA
Close ally of Mnangagwa has led Zimbabwe’s national army since 1994
Sanctioned in 2002 by EU and U.S., including travel ban and freeze on his foreign assets, which has been repeatedly extended

DUMISO DABENGWA
Moscow-trained Dabengwa, nicknamed “The Black Russian”, fought in 1970s anti-colonial
struggle
Dabengwa is leader of Zimbabwe’s Zapu party – opposition to Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF

JOICE MUJURU
Liberation war veteran alias “Spill Blood”, formed own political party after being ousted as vice-president in 2014
Mujuru’s husband was General Solomon Mujuru, one of most feared men in Zimbabwe who died
in 2011 in suspicious circumstances

Prime minister

MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
Head of Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and main opposition leader in Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai, who has been abroad receiving treatment for cancer, is now back in Zimbabwe

Finance minister

TENDAI BITI
Lawyer by training, Biti won international plaudits as finance minister in 2009-13 unity government that stabilised imploding economy
He says he would be happy to reprise role if Tsvangirai was on board


Pictures: AP, Getty Images, Newscom
Sources: Reuters, BBC 
© GRAPHIC NEWS