'Grace Mugabe way above Mnangagwa and Mphoko'

MAKONDE MP, Kindness Paradza (Zanu-PF) has claimed First Lady Grace Mugabe was "way above" Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko in terms of party hierarchy.

Addressing a media training workshop in Chinhoyi last week, Paradza, a veteran journalist-cum-politician, said Grace deserved to be addressed as "Her Excellency", as she was at the same level with President Robert Mugabe.

"In terms of protocol all over the world, the First Lady is above Vice-Presidents because she is the wife of the President and Head of State and her title is Her Excellency. The Head of State is addressed as His Excellency and the VPs are addressed as honourable. That is the difference in terms of protocol . . . she is in a different structure of her own," he said.

Last Friday, Grace made similar claims during her campaign rally in Masvingo, when she said Mugabe was her only superior in the ruling party.