President Robert Mugabe on Thursday fired Sport and Recreation minister Andrew Langa and replaced him with Makhosini Hlongwane who has been minister without portfolio since last week.

The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda has confirmed the development.

Langa has been accused of being aligned to axed Vice-President Joice Mujuru, but had survived in Cabinet after Mugabe fired dozens of ministers and officials allegedly linked to Mujuru in purges that started at the ruling Zanu PF Congress late last year.