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Zimbabwe's first lady, Lady
Grace Mugabe, is set to
become part of the ruling
party's highest-decision
making body and possibly the
country's next president.
And analysts say the move
could dent the chances of
Vice President Joice Mujuru
succeeding 90-year-old
President Robert Mugabe
when his term ends.
Two out of three key organs
in Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-
PF party in recent days
nominated Mrs. Mugabe to
lead the party's women's
section. That puts her in line
to be in the party's central
committee — its highest
decision-making body.
Some analysts say Mugabe
asked his wife to enter
politics so she can take over.
His term ends in 2017,
although he is eligible to run
for re-election. Others
believe Mugabe wants to
position her as a
counterweight to Mujuru or
other potential rivals in the
party.
Oppah Muchinguri, who has
been leading the party's
women's section, said she
will step down in favor of the
president's wife. She hopes
factionalism and debate over
Mugabe's successor will now
become a thing of the past.
"It is not easy because
mother [Mrs. Mugabe] had
been saying 'I do not wanna
be in politics,'" Muchingur
said. "But she was asked to
join it. So mother; your
children say lead us."
Mujuru and Justice Minister
Emmerson Mnangagwa are
considered favorites to
eventually take over from
Mugabe, who has been
Zimbabwe's leader since 1980
when the country won its
independence from Great
Britain.
Pedzisai Ruhanya, who heads
the Zimbabwe Democracy
Institute, said that at
minimum, Mrs. Mugabe will
be significant figure in
Zimbabwean politics going
forward.
"This is Grace realizing that it
is nearing his sunset in terms
of his political career,"
Ruhanya said. "Anyone who
wants to take over from
Mugabe must make sure that
the future of the family is
protected. If that person
takes over from Mugabe,
must make sure that Grace is
found as a minister or an
important figure in any
future government after
Mugabe."
On Friday, Mugabe addressed
his party's youth conference
but mentioned nothing about
retiring from politics.
On several occasions, he has
attacked senior officials who
talk about succession, saying
that fuels factionalism within
Zimbabwe's ruling party.
AFP
