Grace Marufu Mugabe is the most influential woman in Zimbabwe now. She’s currently scheming to inherit power from her aging and long-time president. She recently saw former Vice President who fought the liberation war, Cde, Joyce Mujuru, being shown the door.

Bulawayo 24 News quoted Mrs Mugabe as saying “I never wanted to do this to her (Mujuru), but the way she treated me, I was forced to do so. She tore the party regalia which she was wearing to an extent that she moved undressed in protest over my nomination.” It is now obvious.  Arguably, the problem is not the allegations that are all over the place that Mujuru tried to ouster Mugabe as alleged but Mujuru’s refusal to support Grace in her quest for power.

This is very sad especially for the person who sacrificed her youth fighting for the freedom that Grace and others are abusing and misusing. After being appointed head of ZANU-PF’s Women’s Wing before ascending to secretary or minister for Women’s Affairs, Grace has become a power to reckon with. Whoever teams up with her ends up being promoted to power as it recently happened to her friend and chief organizer, Oppah Muchinguri, who was appointed secretary of Transport and Social Welfare.

How many Graces does Africa have now? Is Mrs Mugabe ushering in the beginning of the end of her husband’s long-time regime? Will she succeed? Does she have what it takes to run the country? Will Zimbabwe let Mrs Mugabe fulfil her ambitions?

We will next week visit another country where bedroom politics are ubiquitous as presidents scheme to see to it that their sons step into their shoes. Africa has to do away with such abuse of the office of the president.

By Nkwazi Mhango

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