President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday sacked Zimbabwe’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Minister, Webster Shamu, as well as Science and Technology Development Minister, Olivia Muchena from their cabinet posts.

The two Zimbabwean officials were among about seven ministers relieved of their duties together with Mugabe’s deputy, Vice President Joice Mujuru.

The government ministers were fired because “their conduct and performance were below the expected standard,” according to a circular from Misheck Sibanda, the chief secretary to Zimbabwe’s cabinet.

This latest action, which also included the sacking of the Indigenisation Minister, Francis Nhema, was preceded by a fall-out between Mugabe and Mujuru, who has been accused of hatching a plot to oust the 90-year-old Zimbabwean leader from power.

“In terms of Section 108(1)(a) of the constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 20 Act 2013, His Excellency the President, Cde RG Mugabe, has relieved the … Ministers of their duties with immediate effect,” said Sibanda.

Shamu, who had previously been viewed as loyal to Mugabe, presided over the ICT Ministry but rarely made “any meaningful policy advancements” since being appointed after last year’s July elections, according to critics.

The seven ministers that were dismissed on Tuesday are said to have been aligned to Mujuru’s bid to take over power from Mugabe, who is now expected to announce a new ICT Minister and other cabinet members before the end of this week.

Sibanda said Mujuru, a former communications minister, had been relieved of his duties as it “had become evident that he conduct in the discharge of her duties had become inconsistent with her official responsibilities” in terms of Section 10 of the Zimbabwe Constitution.