First Lady Grace Mugabe has been playing her cards right.
Only a decade ago, the United States embassy in Harare said it believed she had little or no political influence over her husband, President Robert Mugabe.
“She is concerned about her children and would seek to influence the President to act in ways that would benefit or protect them,” the embassy said.
It also said she was not active or well liked within ZANU-PF circles and had no close relationships with cabinet ministers.
“Grace has few friends, even within the Mugabe family,” the embassy said..
“Grace’s primary personal interest appears to be shopping; she reportedly spends large amounts of forex on her infrequent trips to Asia.”
How things have changed, especially in the last three years since ZANU-PF catapulted her to Secretary for Women’s Affairs.
Two years after marrying Mugabe, Grace said she had no political ambitions, and in fact wanted to be a preacher to spread the word of God.
She said that at times when attending ZANU-PF meetings, when people shout slogans she ends up saying: “Amen” or “Halleluiah”.
The First Lady still claims she has no presidential ambitions but has recently been pressing her husband to name a successor.
She is also believed to be the power behind the G40 faction that is fighting to stop Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa from ascending to that post though former Vice-President Joice Mujuru said the real leader of G40 is Mugabe himself.
Grace has publicly humiliated senior party officials including Mugabe’s official spokesman George Charamba, Mnangagwa and recently Kazembe Kazembe.
But she has little support from senior ZANU-PF officials especially the military that seems to be calling the shots.
Whispers say even the Young Turks driving G40 such as Saviour Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo do not really like her but are reportedly just using her because she will be much easier to push aside if she assumes power.
Below are all the 34 Wikileaks cables about Grace Mugabe.
Tomorrow , we kick off with the cables on Joice Mujuru.
Continued next page
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