Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa chairs first post-Mugabe politburo meeting

HARARE, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday chaired his first ZANU-PF politburo meeting since taking over from former President Robert Mugabe three weeks ago.

The politburo meeting at the ruling party headquarters marked the official start of processes leading to the party's one-day extra ordinary congress set for Friday.

The congress' agenda will include confirmation of Mnangagwa as the president and first secretary of ZANU-PF, his endorsement as the party's presidential candidate for 2018 elections and endorsement of expulsion of party members allegedly aligned to former First Lady Grace Mugabe's G40 faction.

Mnangagwa is yet to appoint his two deputies, and it has not been confirmed whether he will make such announcements at the congress.

Mnangagwa said he would maintain the same politburo until the end of its term in 2019, according to party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo.

The politburo meeting will be followed by a central committee meeting of the party on Thursday. Enditem