HARARE, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said Wednesday his party will deal with allies of Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former vice president he fired on Monday.
Mugabe did not specify the actions to be taken against the allies, but the party's 10 provinces on Tuesday recommended that scores of party supporters allied to Mnangagwa be sacked as well.
Some of the named allies include former finance minister and now cyber security minister Patrick Chinamasa, State Security Minister Kembo Mohadi and Water and Climate Change Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri.
Mugabe fired Mnangagwa, 75, on Monday for alleged disloyalty and deceitfulness. Mnangagwa was widely seen as Mugabe's possible successor.
Mugabe's wife, Grace, had in recent months accused the former VP of fanning factionalism and plotting to unseat Mugabe.
Reports said Mnangagwa had since left the country fearing for his life.
"I would like my fellow citizens to know that I am now out of the country and safe. My sudden departure was caused by incessant threats on my person, life and family by those who have attempted before through various forms of elimination including poisoning," Mnangagwa said in a statement.
While addressing party supporters at ZANU-PF headquarters in the capital Harare on Wednesday, Mugabe said the former VP was a tribalist who lacked supreme discipline.
"We have now dealt with him (Mnangagwa) and I hope we can deal with others who were conspirators alongside him," Mugabe said.
Meanwhile, key ZANU-PF arms, the Youth League and Women's League as well as the party's 10 provinces on Wednesday endorsed First Lady Grace Mugabe for the party VP post.
The party is working on amending its constitution to accommodate a female Vice President, a provision that it changed in 2014 when the party amended its constitution to give Mugabe sole powers to appoint his deputies.
Mugabe said the issue of the female VP will be discussed at the forthcoming party congress to be held in Harare next month.
