Grace Mugabe, Muchinguri cross swords

Zanu-PF Women's League boss First Lady Grace Mugabe has reportedly crossed swords with her predecessor and Higher Education minister Oppah Muchinguri after the latter allegedly accused President Robert Mugabe's wife of failing to politically recognise her in the ruling party's pecking order, it has been learnt.

This comes as it also emerged that Muchinguri was locked in a bitter fight with Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene over control of the province where she viewed herself as "godmother".

Party insiders said that Muchinguri was peeved with her appointments in both the party and government at a time she anticipated handsome rewards as party secretary of administration or Vice-President in recognition of her role in elevating the First Lady and exposing ex-Vice President Joice Mujuru's alleged shenanigans in the run-up to last December's party congress.

Mujuru was accused of plotting to unseat President Robert Mugabe from power through unconstitutional means, an allegation the former VP has vehemently refuted and challenged Zanu-PF to prove it.

Although Muchinguri has been evasive each time she was contacted for comment for the last two weeks, informed sources indicated that the former Women's League boss was angry after Grace reportedly failed to "thank her" for catapulting her to the top women's affairs position and the party's politburo.

Before the Zanu-PF congress last year, Grace and Muchinguri traversed the country's 10 provinces denouncing Mujuru and her perceived allies for allegedly plotting to assassinate Mugabe.