Grace Mugabe will not rule Zimbabwe, says Biti

Tendai Biti, president of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), has warned President Robert Mugabe against creating a family dynasty by imposing Grace, his wife, to succeed him.

He was speaking in Harare's Budiriro suburb during a PDP rally.

"Our simple message to Robert Mugabe is, please go now. This country does not belong to the Mugabe dynasty. Don't think that your wife (Grace) will rule this country. Don't think that your children will rule this country," he said.

There is wide speculation that Mugabe, 92 and facing increasing pressure from within his own party to quit, intends to fix a safe future for his family by making Grace his successor.

In late 2014, Grace was made head of the powerful women's league but she has repeatedly denied that she was her husband's position.

Grace, though, has boasted that she is virtually running government, claiming that Mugabe's deputies take notes from her.

Biti told his supporters that the ruling Zanu PF government had failed as evidenced by a deteriorating economy and a mounting social problems and Mugabe's establishment needed to be removed.