Grace Mugabe's China trip raises stink

First Lady Grace Mugabe's current visit to China has raised a stink within Zanu-PF, with her foes suggesting that the trip is allegedly meant to fundraise for her bid to take over from her husband, President Robert Mugabe.

Sources said yesterday that eyebrows were raised when Grace dropped women's league top official Monica Mutsvangwa from her entourage, taking with her only those seen as supportive of her much-talked about presidential bid.

Grace was invited to China by the president of the All-China Women's Federation, Shen Yueyue according to the Chinese embassy.

Sources said the First Lady was using the invitation to build a war chest.

They said while she was visiting China in her capacity as women's league boss, Grace was also apparently seeking to use the invitation to meet China's first lady, Peng Liyuan, to seek funding for both the league and her divisive nationwide rallies which she used to attack her political rivals.

Making part of Grace's entourage to China are Hurungwe East MP Sarah Mahoka, who is infamous for coining the slogan "Pasi nevanoti Eve haatongi (to hell with those opposed to Grace's ascendancy)," and Manicaland Provincial minister Mandi Chimene, among many of her sidekicks.