Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe can visit the EU in his capacity as new head of the African Union despite a long-standing travel ban by Brussels, a spokeswoman said.

"This ban will be lifted when he is traveling under his African Union chairmanship capacity," European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray said.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe took over the post of African Union chairman on Friday, replacing Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

Mugabe, Africa's oldest president aged 90, shook hands with Abel Aziz in front of fellow leaders to applause at the AU summit in the Ethiopian capital.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has fired two cabinet ministers and five deputy ministers, the presidency announced late Sunday, in an apparent purge targeting allies of his former deputy Joice Mujuru.

The move came after months of political upheaval in Zimbabwe over the succession to 90-year-old Mugabe when he dies or steps down.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has left newly-installed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in charge as he began his annual holiday, state radio announced Monday.

The move comes after months of political upheaval in Zimbabwe over the succession to 90-year-old Mugabe when he dies or steps down.

Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, a long-time ally of President Robert Mugabe, was sworn in as vice-president Friday, putting him firmly in line to succeed the veteran ruler.

Mnangagwa took his oath of office before Mugabe at State House, swearing to "bear true allegiance to Zimbabwe".

Zimbabwe's vice president, once seen as Robert Mugabe's heir apparent, has been fired along with eight cabinet allies, the government said Tuesday as the veteran leader purged his foes.

As the elderly head of state sought to quell infighting over his successor, the chief secretary to the cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, said in a terse statement that Joice Mujuru had been fired.

Zimbabwe's Vice President Joice Mujuru on Tuesday decried "a well-orchestrated smear campaign and gross abuse of state apparatus" that led to the loss of her ruling party post.

Mujuru, who once looked likely to succeed long-ruling President Robert Mugabe, has been accused of plotting to assassinate the 90-year-old and booted off the ruling ZANU-PF party's central committee. 

Zimbabwe's ruling party will amend its constitution to allow President Robert Mugabe to personally appoint his deputies, state media reported Thursday, in a move that would consolidate the veteran ruler's iron-grip on power.

Citing party sources, The Herald newspaper said ZANU-PF had "agreed on proposed amendments that will pave the way for President Mugabe to appoint all politburo members".

At least 11 people have died and several others have been injured during a stampede at a church service in the Zimbabwean mining town of Kwekwe, police said Friday.

"Four people died during a crush at a stadium in Kwekwe," said police spokesman Shadreck Mubaiwa. "The other seven died on arrival at a state hospital in the town."

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday condemned the South African government for trying to keep secret a damning report on the 2002 election he lost to Robert Mugabe, which found that the vote was neither free nor fair.

The findings from two South African judges, who monitored the elections, were made public on November 14 only after the South African Mail & Guardian weekly won a lawsuit seeking the 27-page document's release, the newspaper reported.