harare zimbabwean leader robert mugabe sack vice-president front 12,000 bay party members 2014 emmerson mnangagwa sit quietly crowd green baseball cap pull low eye man stand gain dismissal betray nothing expression gentle clap survival tactic hone five decades service mercurial mugabe cap however speak volumes emblazon across front next portrait mugabe four word indigenise empower develop employ slogan rule zanu-pf party speak congress mnangagwa reinforce message headgear announce revisions party constitution back total ownership control zimbabwe natural resources key insight party direction contemplate life beyond mugabe remain forever master destiny mnangagwa say cheer crowd mugabe 93 hold follow wednesday military takeover harare question arise future hold mnangagwa whose sack post vice president last week bring political crisis head arguments around credentials provide strong leadership stability question whether also democrat say eldred masunungure political science lecturer university zimbabwe whereabouts mugabe wife grace 52 whose prospect succeed president appear help mnangagwa dismissal presently unknown appointment 2014 official deputy mugabe mnangagwa appear well set eventual successor africa old head state 75-year-old one mugabe trust lieutenants side prison wartime government along way earn nickname ngwena shona crocodile animal famed zimbabwean lore stealth ruthlessness mnangagwa back mugabe economic nationalism especially drive force foreign firm hand majority stake local black suggest may pro-market pragmatist many investors hop every administration since independence hold post vary minister state security defense finance well speaker parliament controversially charge internal security mid-1980s mugabe deploy crack north korean-trained brigade rebel loyal rival joshua nkomo right group say 20,000 civilians mostly ndebele tribe kill mugabe deny genocide crimes humanity admit moment madness mnangagwa role remain shroud mystery typical political operator train communist guerrilla china 1960s always stay shadow behind mugabe secretive insular prefer operate radar inner circle say push corner resort joke trivia avoid serious discussion say deceptive fair say default position crack joke deflect uncomfortable question ask endless question one member parliament close say conscious public image hard man much complex personality pleasant amaze story-teller politician also mnangagwa midlands province tell reuters mnangagwa appointment vice president appointment come day predecessor joice mujuru fire allegedly plan topple mugabe ask whether purge would weaken party smile mnangagwa say revolution way strengthen go cycle another cycle rid elements become inconsistent correct line mnangagwa learn politics prison 1960s sentence death sabotage british authorities follow capture one early guerrilla units fight white colonial rule rhodesia 19 spar noose law prohibit execution convict 21. decade prison often share cell mugabe mnangagwa become personal assistant leader liberation struggle go head guerrilla movement fear internal security bureau january photograph appear local media show mnangagwa enjoy drink friend hand large novelty mug emblazon word boss supporters mugabe border treason suspect mnangagwa already saw leader shoe mugabe fire mnangagwa vice president last week show traits disloyalty remove possible successor also one last remain liberation war comrades relations already cool two men suggestions mnangagwa ally august poison ice cream dairy own mugabes eye 'crocodile zimbabwe military sweep power