News / National
Grace hints at Mugabe successor
22 Nov 2015 at 08:45hrs | Views
FIRST LADY Grace Mugabe yesterday hinted that President Robert Mugabe could name an outsider to succeed him as she warned the veteran ruler's lieutenants against becoming too ambitious.
Grace's revelations provide the first insight into Mugabe's succession plans as he has kept the matter close to his chest.
They came a few hours after his wife heaped praise on Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a rally in his Midlands Province stronghold that led some to speculate she was on his side.
She told thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at a rally in Murewa that those who believed they were close to succeeding the 91-year-old leader were fooling themselves.
"God appoints leaders. That is why you see sometimes, even in the bible, young people were given power without even campaigning for it," she thundered.
"People will look at you and judge. God will choose someone like Mugabe at the right time.
"If you listen to your wives who will be assuring you in the comfort of your homes, you are fooling yourselves.
"Listen to what the people are saying and if you choose to ignore that, it is your problem."
She repeated her advice to Mugabe's handpicked inner circle that includes vice-presidents Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko to remain grounded or risk the boot.
"Be good to people you meet on the way up because you will need them on your way down," she warned.
"If Mugabe appoints you and people say they don't want you, they will reject you. Don't ride on other people's backs; that will not work."
Grace said no Zanu-PF leader should try and build their profiles by claiming to be working with Mugabe, in another pointed rebuke of Mnangagwa.
"Others would say I was with him up and down the stairs but you will reap what you sow," she retorted.
"You can't sow seeds of despondency and reap joy. If we talk to you and you don't listen, you will regret. Wait and remain loyal."
Grace's revelations provide the first insight into Mugabe's succession plans as he has kept the matter close to his chest.
They came a few hours after his wife heaped praise on Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a rally in his Midlands Province stronghold that led some to speculate she was on his side.
She told thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at a rally in Murewa that those who believed they were close to succeeding the 91-year-old leader were fooling themselves.
"God appoints leaders. That is why you see sometimes, even in the bible, young people were given power without even campaigning for it," she thundered.
"People will look at you and judge. God will choose someone like Mugabe at the right time.
"If you listen to your wives who will be assuring you in the comfort of your homes, you are fooling yourselves.
She repeated her advice to Mugabe's handpicked inner circle that includes vice-presidents Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko to remain grounded or risk the boot.
"Be good to people you meet on the way up because you will need them on your way down," she warned.
"If Mugabe appoints you and people say they don't want you, they will reject you. Don't ride on other people's backs; that will not work."
Grace said no Zanu-PF leader should try and build their profiles by claiming to be working with Mugabe, in another pointed rebuke of Mnangagwa.
"Others would say I was with him up and down the stairs but you will reap what you sow," she retorted.
"You can't sow seeds of despondency and reap joy. If we talk to you and you don't listen, you will regret. Wait and remain loyal."
Source - the standard
