Grace Mugabe battles colon cancer

Contrary to President Robert Mugabe's wife Grace's claims upon her return from an extended stay in Singapore six weeks ago that she only had an operation to remove a nagging appendix, close family sources say she is suffering from much more serious ailment- colon cancer.

Family sources say about 30cm of her colon (large intestine) affected by cancer was removed during the operation. Grace, who is Zanu-PF Women's League boss, left the country last week Wednesday via South Africa on a commercial flight.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF politburo member Oppah Muchinguri has confirmed that her predecessor as the party's Women's League boss, First Lady Grace Mugabe, is out of the country seeking medical treatment as speculation over her absence from the public scene continues to grow.

Muchinguri said there was nothing wrong with Grace going out of the country for check-ups.  

So far the government has not said anything about Grace's absence but Muchinguri's statement confirmed that the First Lady was out of the country.

Grace, who has been ever present at her husband's side, has been conspicuous by her absence from public functions and President Robert Mugabe's foreign trips, setting tongues wagging.