Grace Mugabe named among most influential Africans

Dr Grace Ntombizodwa Mugabe has been named among the 100 most influential Africans by London-based New African Magazine.

Dr Mugabe hit the headlines this year, even outshining her husband. She used her nationwide publicity tour to attack VP Joice Mujuru, seen as a possible successor to Robert Mugabe.

Mrs Mugabe's entry into politics began in August when she was nominated to head Zanu-PF's women's league - a position that should be confirmed at the on-going Zanu-PF congress - giving her a seat in the party's politburo. Weeks later she received a PhD in obscure circumstances at the once-prestigious University of Zimbabwe.

At this month's Zanu-PF conference, Grace is likely to join the politburo. In 2015, she is likely to be touted as a potential successor to her husband.

Grace Mugabe is seeking election as Zanu-PF's Women's League leader at the congress, which runs from Tuesday for a week.

This position would catapult her into the politburo, Zanu-PF's highest decision-making body, and bring her closer to the presidium, the office of the presidency.

Grace Mugabe has been instrumental in Joice Mujuru's latest political woes. In her nationwide "meet the people" rallies, she's publicly attacked her. Last week she called Joice Mujuru "inappropriately dressed" and suggested the vice-president would try to assassinate her.

The verbal barrage has thrust Mrs Mugabe into the political limelight, stirring a toxic battle among warring factions of the ruling Zanu-PF party. Political talk in Harare, the capital, is dominated by the vagaries of the succession battle.

Mrs Mugabe's venomous attacks on Mrs Mujuru have triggered much of the debate, and put factionalism within the normally disciplined Zanu-PF on public view in an unprecedented manner. Headlines screaming "Mugabe's Endgame" and "Grace's Tsunami" have accompanied her rants at political rallies.

The onslaught has left some commentators wondering whether Mrs Mugabe is gunning for the top job or siding with the camp of Emmerson Mnangagwa, the legal affairs minister seen as the other likely successor to Mr Mugabe.

Grace is the wife of President Robert Mugabe and the First Lady of Zimbabwe from her marriage to the leader in 1996.

Dr Mugabe is in the list together with three fellow Zimbabweans, novelist Noviolet Bulawayo, media entrepreneur Trevor Ncube and Econet Wireless founder Strive Masiyiwa.