Zimbabwean vice president dies

Mugabe said Muzenda would remain "a great revolutionary leader"

Zimbabwean Vice President Simon Muzenda, a close ally of Robert Mugabe, has died in hospital after a long illness, the president has said.

A sombre Mr Mugabe announced the news in a live broadcast on state television with "a heavy heart".

"Vice President Muzenda... is and shall always remain a great revolutionary leader," he said.

"He took it upon himself to join the struggle for the freedom of this country from British settler colonialism."

Local media had reported in recent months that Mr Muzenda was ill, however the official Herald newspaper had dismissed reports that his condition was critical.

He would have turned 81 next month.

Successor debate

Mr Muzenda, a founding member of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, played a significant role in Zimbabwe's battle for independence in the 1970s.

A former teacher and carpenter, he had backed Mr Mugabe's controversial land redistribution programme and said he delayed planned retirement to see the first phase of the programme through to a successful conclusion.

He had been one of the country's two vice presidents since 1987 when Zimbabwe adopted the executive presidency.

Experts say his death is bound to spark fierce speculation over who will take his place, as his successor may well go on to succeed Mr Mugabe as president.