On the 5th of November, Robert Mugabe’s wife declared that she was ready to succeed her husband in the political field. The tension has been rising in Zimbabwe’s ruling party as to who will take over from the aging president.
“I say to Mr. Mugabe you should … leave me to take over your post. Have no fear. If you want to give me the job give it to me freely.” said Grace Mugabe in an address to thousands of indigenous church followers at a stadium in Harare.
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had been touted as a possible successor to the 93-year-old Mugabe, has recently fallen out with him. Mr. Mnangagwa was threatened by the president, accusing him of fanning factionalism to garner support ahead of a party special congress due in December.
Grace Mugabe, 52, said the party will soon change its constitution to allow a woman to be vice president.
The move would likely see her replace Mnangagwa and pave the way for her to succeed her husband, who is Africa’s oldest president and has ruled the former British colony for 37 years.
Grace Mugabe accused Mnangagwa of a dark past of clandestine plots, including planning to stage a coup around the time of Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. Mnangagwa’s predecessor Joice Mujuru —was axed after Grace Mugabe launched a campaign accusing her of plotting to topple the president.
Despite his advanced age and concerns over his health, Mugabe has refused to name a successor.
He has been endorsed as his party’s candidate for next year’s election.
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