Grace to succeed Mugabe?

First Lady Grace is tipped to succeed her husband President Robert Mugabe as the leader of the party and government if the sitting arrangement at the Zanu PF politburo meeting on Wednesday is anything to go by, analysts said yesterday.

Grace set tongues wagging during the meeting when she occupied a seat previously reserved for the party's presidium and that used to be occupied by dethroned VP Joice Mujuru with many yesterday suggesting that it was clear that she was now in charge of affairs in Zanu PF and government.

Former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said Grace's presence at the presidium table was no coincidence but a clear signal that Mugabe was grooming her to take over the Presidency.

Analysts said though she was Mugabe's wife who normally takes a sit next to her husband the developments in Zanu PF however made her powerful and likely to take over from the veteran leader who celebrates his 91st birthday tomorrow.