Friday, 20 November 2015

Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwe’s president denies presidential ambition

                                Grace Mugabe                                    (C)AFP
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's wife, Grace Mugabe on Thursday denied harbouring ambitions to succeed her husband, pledging instead to support the 91-year-old's next presidential bid.
"I am standing here as the wife of the president as well as the person you chose to lead the women's league. It ends there," she told ruling party supporters at a rally in the capital.
"I do not need any other position."
Grace Mugabe, 50, said her focus is on leading the Zanu-PF women's wing and that she would support Mugabe when he seeks re-election, even if he is wheelchair-bound by then, News24 reports.
"Some have laughed at me saying Mugabe's wife must be mad. I said we will put Mr Mugabe in a wheelchair and go for elections," she told a crowd of about 5 000 supporters.
Zimbabwe's next presidential election will be held in 2018. Mugabe is Africa's oldest leader, and has been in power since independence in 1980. Speculation is rife over his health with doubts as to whether he would be fit enough to campaign for re-election. Grace has become increasingly powerful since her elevation last year to lead the Zanu-PF women's wing.

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