After Robert Mugabe sacked Mnangagwa, he said he would return to lead Zimbabwe. Here’s how that happened

6 November 2017

Mugabe sacks Mnangagwa as his vice-president, a move seen as positioning Mugabe’s wife, Grace, to become his successor. Mnangagwa flees the country but promises: “I will return to Zimbabwe to lead you.” The military takes control the following week, with tanks taking up positions around the capital. Mugabe is put under house arrest. Four days later the ruling Zanu-PF party sacks Mugabe as leader and expels his wife from the party.

Zimbabwe election: Mnangagwa narrowly wins historic presidential poll Read more

21 November

Mugabe, 93, bows to pressure and quits, ending his 37-year grip on power.

24 November

Mnangagwa is sworn in as president, promising that elections due in 2018 will go ahead.

February 2018

Veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies of cancer. His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party picks former youth activist Nelson Chamisa to lead it into the election, set for 30 July.

June 2018

A record 23 presidential candidates are cleared to stand.

On 23 June a bomb explodes as Mnangagwa leaves the podium at a Zanu-PF campaign rally in the opposition stronghold city of Bulawayo. He escapes unharmed but dozens of people are injured and two of his bodyguards are killed.

July 2018

On the eve of the vote, Mugabe holds a surprise media conference at his home at which he stuns observers and calls for voters to reject the Zanu-PF, his former party.

On 30 July, voting takes place in a peaceful atmosphere. Long lines form from the early morning outside polling stations and turnout is estimated at about 75%.

The next day, as vote counting is under way, Chamisa says he is “winning resoundingly”. “We are ready to form the next [government],” he says. The government warns candidates they face prosecution and jail for prematurely announcing results.

The electoral commission declares there has been no rigging, after the opposition repeatedly alleges the voting process was flawed.

August 2018

On 1 August the election commission announces that Zanu-PF has won most of the seats in parliament. It does not give the results for the presidential vote.

The opposition cries foul, alleging fraud, and EU observers say the elections were held on an “un-level playing field”.

Opposition protestors take to the streets of Harare, burning tyres and pulling down street signs. Soldiers arrive and fire live rounds on opposition activists. At least six people are killed.

As international condemnation pours in, the government warns it will “not tolerate” further unrest. In the early hours of 3 August, the electoral commission declares Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8% of the vote – just enough to avoid a run-off.

The opposition immediately says it will challenge the result in court.