Zanu PF's Bulawayo province has resolved that Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa should be expelled from the ruling party for allegedly causing commotion at the Presidential Youth Interface Rally at White City Stadium where some people booed First Lady Grace Mugabe.
According to the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the resolution was made Sunday following an urgent provincial meeting, which deliberated on the heckling of Mrs. Mugabe while she was addressing thousands of people.
The ZBC quoted provincial chairperson Dennis Ndlovu as saying the incident was an embarrassment for Bulawayo, which was not part of the people who booed the first lady.
Mrs. Mugabe was booed by some people when she started attacking Mnangagwa, who is accused of using a faction of the party known as Team Lacoste in an attempt to succeed President Mugabe. The first lady allegedly leads her faction - Generation 40. However, the two have denied that they have presidential ambitions and are using these fronts to canvas for Zanu PF support in a tense internal succession battle.
Several provinces are expected to follow the Bulawayo Zanu PF province's move ahead of the party's proposed Extra Ordinary Congress in December to choose new leaders and expel others.
VOA Studio 7 was unable to get comment from Mnangagwa as Mrs. Mugabe also claimed on Sunday that the vice president has been plotting to topple Mr. Mugabe since independence from British rule in 1980.
On Saturday, President Mugabe lashed out at Mnangagwa and his so-called supporters in Masvingo and Midlands provinces to form their own party after he identified those that booed his wife as ZANU PF supporters from the two regions.
He also threatened to fire the vice president for what he regarded as his wayward behavior in undermining his presidency and his wife for political purposes.
War veterans of the 1970s liberation war are backing Mnangagwa to succeed President Mugabe.
Indications are that Mnangagwa may be removed from the presidium in December and replaced by Mrs. Mugabe.
Similar allegations were made against former Vice President Joice Mujuru before she was expelled for undermining the authority of the president, corruption and incompetence.