Godfrey Mtimba • 10 October 2014 11:45AM • 49 comments
MASVINGO - In yet another stunning development in the fast-changing and gripping Zanu PF story, First Lady Grace Mugabe has now come out in the open about her ambition to succeed President Robert Mugabe as the country’s leader.
Addressing thousands of party supporters at a rally held at Masvingo’s Mucheke Stadium yesterday, Grace said, in addition to leading the party’s women’s wing, she had plans on occupying the highest office in the land.
Grace confirmed what the Daily News has consistently and authoritatively reported since the First Lady entered the political fray three months ago.
The fired up First Lady also told the crowd that when she was approached to enter politics formally this year, she was shown a “vision” of her “ruling the heavenly kingdom” and would thus fight all those who did not support her ascendency to power.
“When I was approached to come into politics and lead the women, one day I saw a vision of me ruling the heavenly kingdom. Rimwe zuva ndakaona ndine humambo hwekudenga, ndiri pano nhasi ndirikutoona humambo ihwo saka ndakati regai ndihutore,” Grace said. (One day I saw myself ruling the heavenly kingdom, I’m here today witnessing it and I have decided to take up the challenge).
She added that she had been learning the ropes of leadership over the past few years and had been groomed politically by people in Zanu PF. This was why she felt that she was ready to take up any political office, including the highest office in the land.
In a surprising turn in her address, Grace warned top Zanu PF male officials, whom she claimed had been undermining women, that she was coming in to take over power from her husband.
“The time for undermining women is over. Now that I am there, things will change. It’s time for us women to take total control of the party and if these men sleep, we are ready to take over and rule.
“We can make it since 52 percent of the population is made up of us women, so we can take any position and rule,” she added.
Grace also threatened pointedly senior Zanu PF supporters of vice President Joice Mujuru, saying that they would lose their positions both in government and within the party if they continued to stand in her way.
She further accused the faction of attempting to topple Mugabe and blocking her from ascending the power ladder.
“Factionalism has killed the party and we know that there are some certain individuals who pretend to love President Mugabe when they are plotting his downfall.
“I want to warn you that he is the one who gave you all those positions and powerful posts and if you continue to do this you know what will happen, he will give them to others who are better and loyal,” she said brazenly.
She went on to mock the Mujuru faction through a popular vernacular saying, warning supporters against following or supporting “a mother who does not have a husband”.
“I am warning those who follow certain factions to stop that especially when you plot against the President and me. It is dangerous and some of you will be in hot soup.
“Kusina mai na baba hakuendwi. They always say this in Shona, kusina mai hakuendwi but now we say kusina mai nababa hakuendwi,” Grace said in a part of her speech that was widely interpreted as insinuating that the Vice President’s faction was not worth supporting as it did not have a father figure. Mujuru’s husband Solomon died in a suspicious inferno at the couple’s Beatrice farm three years ago.
Grace also lambasted the Masvingo provincial leadership for supporting the Mujuru faction and accused them of trying to take over power from her husband and at the same time block her from rising in the party.
“Here in Masvingo the leadership is fanning factionalism and is made up of people who do not listen. Mune nhinhi muno, (you are stubborn) even if they are cautioned they continue to go against the President and party instructions but I am saying to you today that has to come to an end.
“I warn you to stop it because you are playing with fire,” Grace said.
In a bizarre twist, she also warned that some top leaders who were working against her and her husband would be struck by stroke following some unspecified “developments” that would happen to them.
Grace was accompanied to the rally by current Women’s League boss Oppah Muchinguri, Olivia Muchena, Edna Madzongwe and Masvingo provincial iron lady, Shuvai Mahofa.
Also in attendance were Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, Environment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Energy Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, who was mocked throughout the First Lady’s speech.