'Grace Mugabe 'bedroom coup' confirmed'

ZANU-PF has all but confirmed First Lady Grace Mugabe is in charge of the party using powers vested in her by virtue of being President Robert Mugabe's wife, buttressing remarks of a "bedroom coup" made by former war veteran's leader Jabulani Sibanda last year.

Sibanda's remarks cost him the position of war veteran's leader and he was subsequently fired from Zanu-PF before being dragged before the courts for his utterances.

Speaking while introducing Grace to Zanu-PF supporters in Rushinga on Wednesday, Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko unwittingly confirmed that Grace's powers were by virtue of her being Mugabe's wife.

Mphoko has been taking the role of introducing Grace at her rallies, a development that sparked seniority questions, which the VP explained by saying the First Lady was - on account of her being the President's wife - more senior than both VPs and everybody else in the party and government except her husband.

Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba also said in an interview with the State media that Grace's powers were by virtue of her being Mugabe's wife.

Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said Mphoko and Charamba had all but confirmed Sibanda's observation.

Another political analyst Takura Zhangazha said he did not think that Charamba was referring to a bedroom coup, "but by implication, the inference is that the First Lady is literally up there in the power dynamics of Zanu-PF with the president."

Publisher and political analyst Ibbo Mandaza said Charamba's statements confirmed that Grace was now in charge.

In another display of power, Grace revealed earlier this year that she gives VP Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mphoko direction on how to run their government work.