Zimbabwe president fires 'disloyal' vice president

President Mugabe has fired his vice president, giving his wife a greater chance of becoming Zimbabwe's next leader

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has fired Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice president, the government said on Monday.

Mnangagwa, 75, had displayed “traits of disloyalty”, Information Minister Simon Khaya Moyo said.

"Mnangagwa's conduct in discharge of his duties is inconsistent with the responsibilities," the information minister said.

Mnangagwa, a former intelligence chief, had been a leading candidate to succeed President Mugabe, 93.

His removal makes it more likely for President Mugabe’s wife, Grace, follows in her husband’s steps as leader of Zimbabwe, at a special congress of the ruling Zanu-PF party next month.

She had earlier called on her husband to remove the vice-president.

Addressing members of indigenous church groups at a rally in the capital, Harare, on Sunday, Mugabe said: "The snake must be hit on the head.

"We must deal with the real snake behind the factions and discord in the party. We are going for the congress as a united party."