The Crocodile of Zimbabwe

Alex Magaisa, a law professor and former adviser to former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who has written extensively on Mnangagwa's relationship with Mugabe. Now his challenge is to demonstrate leadership. If his challenge was stifled under Mugabe's wings, this is his chance to shine. He comes with a nasty reputation, and he must work hard to cleanse himself.

Mnangagwa, Mugabe's former prison mate, has held a cabinet post in the authoritarian regime since 1980. Magaisa describes Mnangagwa as having been Mugabe's loyal "water carrier" who has done Mugabe's bidding in various posts as minister of state security, minister of justice and speaker of parliament.

In these positions, Mnangagwa, a trained lawyer, has overseen intelligence and security operations that have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Mnangagwa's reputation is tarnished by being minister of state security as he headed the Joint High Command (JHC), an organ that oversaw the army and the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).

Operations by the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade army unit and CIO in the south-western Matabeleland and Midlands regions resulted in the ethnic massacre of at least 20,000 people in the 1980s.

Although Mnangagwa has denied responsibility for the mass killings, he is seen as key player in the atrocities known as the Gukurahundi massacres.

Within the party, Mnangagwa served as Zanu PF's chief election agent in the 2008 presidential elections while in the government he served as head of the Joint Operations Command (JOC), a modified version of the JHC.

In this dual role, Mnangagwa organised Mugabe's re-election campaign in a presidential poll and runoff that resulted in the deaths of close to 200 opposition supporters and allegations of grave violations documented by international rights groups.

During his three-year tenure as vice president, Mnangagwa has tried to recast his image with both the local business community, where he has many wealthy allies, and the international community where he's seen as a 'reformist'.

He also spearheaded Zimbabwe's reintegration after years of isolation by the international community. He has led delegations to China, Belarus, Russia, South Africa and Western Europe where he has signed major trade deals on behalf of Zimbabwe.

To diplomats, as to much of Zimbabwe, the 75-year-old appears to be the man who might actually succeed Mugabe, and if a favorable deal to end the military takeover can be negotiated, the popular Crocodile may yet have his turn at the throne.