The First Lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe, has reportedly told a
powerful bloc in the ruling Zanu-PF party that she was already the
president of the country because she ‘plans and does everything with
President Robert Mugabe.’
According to NewsDay,
a leader of the Zanu-PF women’s league, Angeline Muchemeyi, is quoted
as saying that Grace said she was not interested in the post of vice
president as was earlier reported as plans continue as to who succeeds
the 92-year-old Mugabe.
The First Lady said “I’m the wife of the president, I’m the
president already … I plan and do everything with the president, what
more do I want, for now the position of the women boss is enough.”
The subject of who takes over from Mugabe has come up time and
again. Grace Mugabe who currently leads the women’s league of the party
is seen as a strong contender. She has held the post since 2014.
Zimbabwe’s two vice presidents, Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson
Mnangagwa, have been named as other possible successors. Mugabe has
repeatedly criticized intra-party jostling to take over his job.
Speaking to a group of war veterans at the weekend, Mugabe
announced a time line for his resignation whiles admitting that the
country’s economy was crumbling. The southern African country’s currency
is in poor shape and banks running out of cash, the country is also
feeling the pinch of a crippling drought.
However, the ruling party confirmed that Mugabe will be contesting
the country’s next election in 2018 and if he is re-elected, he will
only retire in 2023, when he turns 99.
Mugabe is the only President Zimbabwe has had since independence 36
years ago, addressing thousands of supporters, a few days after a
section of war veterans called him a corrupt dictator,
Mugabe is quoted to have said “As long as the party says
continue, I continue…If I still have the energy, I still have the life,
the blessings of God, I will continue.”
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