Mugabe’s wife for ruling party top post

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, has been nominated to take over the leadership of the ruling party’s women wing.

The imminent elevation is likely to throw the 49-year old First Lady into the race to succeed her 90 year-old husband.

Zanu PF is preparing for an elective congress in December where President Mugabe is likely to be retained unopposed for another 10 years.

However, it is the elevation of his wife that would be the talking point ahead of the congress.

The Zanu PF women’s league on Friday hosted her 49th birthday party at an orphanage she runs outside the capital Harare where the surprise announcement was made.

The outgoing women’s league boss Oppah Muchinguri told Mrs Mugabe that she deserved the post for standing by her husband during tough times.

“When you married the president you offered to make his troubles yours and you have been there with him ever since, even in the face of attacks by paparazzi and the West,” she said.

“You fought for us and the country and the only way we can repay you is to ask you to lead us.

“Newspapers have written bad things about you including that you had grabbed a farm but you have stayed strong. We are here to thank you, we should never forget that.”

Mrs Mugabe said she was ‘shocked’ by the announcement and would consult first before responding.

Although, she is frequently seen on her husband side during Zanu PF functions, the First Lady had not been active in the party prior to her nomination.

President Mugabe’s first wife Sally, born in Ghana was once the chairperson of the Zanu PF women’s league.

The veteran ruler who has been at the helm of the ruling party since the 1970s has in the past said he would not anoint a successor.

Zanu PF is divided into two factions reportedly led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa who are vying for President Mugabe’s post in the event that he exists the scene.