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Grace Mugabe Hits Campaign Trail, Angers Some in Zanu-PF


President Robert Mugabe with First Lady Grace Mugabe greeting some cabinet ministers and close relatives recently soon after his arrival from the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Partly obscured (left) is Vice President Joice Mujuru. (File Photo)
President Robert Mugabe with First Lady Grace Mugabe greeting some cabinet ministers and close relatives recently soon after his arrival from the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Partly obscured (left) is Vice President Joice Mujuru. (File Photo)

First Lady Grace Mugabe on Tuesday hosted inter-denominational church leaders at her children’s home in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province.

The first lady has hit the campaign trail and has addressed party supporters in Mashonaland West and Midlands provinces.

In attendance were many church leaders including Zion Christian Church leader Bishop Zephania Mutendi and Senate president Edna Madzongwe. The meeting is said to have focused on corruption and moral decadence. Party insiders though are deeply divided over the first lady’s rallies ahead of the key elective congress in December.

Zanu-PF has effectively split into two major camps one allegedly led by Vice President Joice Mujuru and the other said to be led by Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangangwa. The two though deny that they lead factions.

The Mnangangwa camp led by outgoing Women’s League secretary Oppah Muchinguri has hailed Mrs. Mugabe as the only person capable of ending factional fights. But those in the Mujuru camp told Studio 7 that they are concerned that “Mrs. Mugabe’s persona is becoming that of a rhetorical bomb thrower”, tearing apart her perceived husband’s opponents.

The first lady accused some Zanu-PF big wigs of plotting with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to topple Mr. Mugabe.

She also said Mr. Mugabe is aware of the coup conspirators. Mrs. Mugabe has also called for so called inept Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons to be dismissed.

Efforts to get a comment from Madzongwe were futile as she said she was still in a meeting with the Christian leaders.

Former Zanu-PF Member of Parliament and leader of the now defunct Zimbabwe Union of Democrats, Margaret Dongo, says Mrs. Mugabe is a divisive figure.

More details to follow ...

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