Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe
continues to position herself to succeed her husband by holding rallies in
different parts of the country and verbally attacking party members who
refuse to back her. In a recent rally, she handed out bottles of water
bearing her image and the words “Mother of the nation.”
continues to position herself to succeed her husband by holding rallies in
different parts of the country and verbally attacking party members who
refuse to back her. In a recent rally, she handed out bottles of water
bearing her image and the words “Mother of the nation.”
“You are not going to
gag me, I have my mouth… I will not tolerate nonsense within the party,”
she said, during a rally in Harare where she addressed
unnamed Zanu-PF officials who she blames for factionalism within the
party.
gag me, I have my mouth… I will not tolerate nonsense within the party,”
she said, during a rally in Harare where she addressed
unnamed Zanu-PF officials who she blames for factionalism within the
party.
She also distributed 250 tonnes of
maize and 115 tonnes of rice to the people at the rally.
maize and 115 tonnes of rice to the people at the rally.
At her previous rallies over the
last month, Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe made it clear that nobody within
the ruling party was above party discipline.
last month, Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe made it clear that nobody within
the ruling party was above party discipline.
There have been factions forming
within Zanu-PF, seemingly linked to who should succeed her 91-year-old husband.
within Zanu-PF, seemingly linked to who should succeed her 91-year-old husband.
In particular she warned war
veterans, many of whom fought in the liberation war and spearheaded the
invasions of white-owned farms, that there too could face disciplinary hearings
if they threatened the party’s united front.
veterans, many of whom fought in the liberation war and spearheaded the
invasions of white-owned farms, that there too could face disciplinary hearings
if they threatened the party’s united front.
Afterwards, the 50-year-old first
lady faced a backlash with war veterans accusing her of not respecting them.
lady faced a backlash with war veterans accusing her of not respecting them.
Today at her Mbare rally (see
12:36 post) she hit back.
12:36 post) she hit back.
“Some war veterans are saying
they will never listen to me because I never participated in the liberation war
against British colonial rule. Zimbabwe is for everyone.”
they will never listen to me because I never participated in the liberation war
against British colonial rule. Zimbabwe is for everyone.”
BBC
