Beleaguered Vice President Joice Mujuru's last-minute appeal to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has been ignored and she has been sacked, it was confirmed on yesterday. 


The 59-year-old army commander's widow “has been relieved of her duties” along with eight ministers loyal to her in what was a widely anticipated though unprecedented move, according to the country's Herald online. 

Mugabe hinted at the congress of the ruling Zanu-PF party on Saturday that he would fire Mujuru, saying those who boycotted the event had already “said goodbye”. It was not yet clear if Mujuru had been expelled from Zanu-PF. 

Earlier, Mujuru said in a statement she had been the victim of a smear campaign. She denied accusations that she had masterminded a plot to oust or kill Mugabe, as had been alleged by media.