Mugabe reshuffles cabinet

President Robert Mugabe began a widely-anticipated reshuffle of his cabinet on Tuesday, sacking a minister and his deputy, state media said.

The state-run Chronicle newspaper said energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and his deputy Munacho Mutezo had already received dismissal letters.

"It's true that the two of us have been sacked. The letter was sent to me last night [Monday] and I signed for it," Mavhaire told the paper's online version.

The Chronicle is in the hands of a faction of Zanu-PF led by Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is Vice President Joice Mujuru's main rival in the tussle to succeed the 90-year-old president.

It said Mugabe would later on Tuesday announce a "new look" cabinet after a reshuffle that would likely see the dismissal of ministers aligned to Mujuru.

In the past two months Mujuru has been accused of plotting to unseat and even assassinate Mugabe, charges she says are "ridiculous".

Ministers that could face dismissal include presidential affairs minister Didymus Mutasa, information communication technology minister Webster Shamu, and labour minister Nicholas Goche.

Source : Sapa /str/jk/jje/th