Grace Mugabe stocks succession fore

First Lady Grace Mugabe has again emerged as a leading contender in the race to take over from her ageing husband President Robert Mugabe after resuming her high profile rallies.

Mugabe, now 91, shows clear signs of slowing down but there is no indication from him that he is ready to cede power.

For decades now, the ruling party has been rocked by internecine power struggles that boiled over at the end of last year, resulting in the expulsion of then Vice-President Joice Mujuru from both government and party.

While public sentiment seems to agree that Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a "heartbeat away from power", Grace last week said that not even her husband "can stop me".

Although she has publicly claimed disinterest in taking the throne, the First Lady appears to have thrown down the gauntlet, embarking on a new set of rallies across the country that analysts agree could be a platform for her to build a base as a potential Mugabe successor.

A politburo member who spoke on condition he was not identified, revealed yesterday that there was terror within Zanu-PF circles that Mugabe might just do the unthinkable.