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Grace Mugabe makes surprise appearance at Mnangagwa inauguration
04 Sep 2023 at 15:36hrs | Views
Former President Robert Mugabe's widow Grace and daughter, Bona, hugged and exchanged pleasantries with President Emmerson Mnangagwa during swear-in on Monday in the latest public demonstration of a thaw in relations between the former allies-turned-foes.
It was the first public appearance in years by the former first lady who has kept a low profile since her husband was ousted in a military assisted coup by the incumbent in November 2017.
What would follow were tense relations between the former first family and the Zimbabwe strongman.
The pinnacle of the conflict was seen in 2019 when the family vehemently fought an attempt by Mnangagwa to bury Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre where a mausoleum was built in honour of the founding leader by his successor.
Mugabe, Zimbabwe's sole ruler for the first 37 years of independence, died a bitter man after he was evidently betrayed by his former allies in a bloodless coup.
The former president, who died 6 September 2019, revealed earlier he was voting for then opposition MDC Alliance (now CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa in a disputed 2018 poll that saw Mnangagwa declared winner.
It is however not the first time for Bona to attend Mnangagwa's inauguration.
The first-born child of the Mugabe couple also attended Mnangagwa's inauguration with her husband Simbarashe Chikore in 2018.
She was representing her father who sent a half-hearted congratulatory message to his former right-hand man.
Mugabe's surviving family, that was revealed to be sitting on multiple farms outside the country's one farm per family policy, is seen attempting to ingratiate itself with the incumbent in attempts to protect its vast property portfolio.
In 2019, Mnangagwa revealed that Grace owned 16 farms.
In a radio interview and using Grace Mugabe's monicker, Mnangagwa said, "I know of one lady ‘Stop It' who has about 16 yet the law says one family one farm."
Similarly, divorce proceedings between Bona and husband have exposed that the two individually or jointly owned properties worth millions including 21 farms and more than 25 upmarket residential properties.
Bona filed for divorce from Chikore in March this year, on the grounds that there was a total breakdown with no prospects for restoring the union.
She is seeking an order for a decree of divorce.
Mnangagwa's inauguration was also attended by former state vice president Joice Mujuru.
It was the first public appearance in years by the former first lady who has kept a low profile since her husband was ousted in a military assisted coup by the incumbent in November 2017.
What would follow were tense relations between the former first family and the Zimbabwe strongman.
The pinnacle of the conflict was seen in 2019 when the family vehemently fought an attempt by Mnangagwa to bury Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre where a mausoleum was built in honour of the founding leader by his successor.
Mugabe, Zimbabwe's sole ruler for the first 37 years of independence, died a bitter man after he was evidently betrayed by his former allies in a bloodless coup.
The former president, who died 6 September 2019, revealed earlier he was voting for then opposition MDC Alliance (now CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa in a disputed 2018 poll that saw Mnangagwa declared winner.
It is however not the first time for Bona to attend Mnangagwa's inauguration.
The first-born child of the Mugabe couple also attended Mnangagwa's inauguration with her husband Simbarashe Chikore in 2018.
Mugabe's surviving family, that was revealed to be sitting on multiple farms outside the country's one farm per family policy, is seen attempting to ingratiate itself with the incumbent in attempts to protect its vast property portfolio.
In 2019, Mnangagwa revealed that Grace owned 16 farms.
In a radio interview and using Grace Mugabe's monicker, Mnangagwa said, "I know of one lady ‘Stop It' who has about 16 yet the law says one family one farm."
Similarly, divorce proceedings between Bona and husband have exposed that the two individually or jointly owned properties worth millions including 21 farms and more than 25 upmarket residential properties.
Bona filed for divorce from Chikore in March this year, on the grounds that there was a total breakdown with no prospects for restoring the union.
She is seeking an order for a decree of divorce.
Mnangagwa's inauguration was also attended by former state vice president Joice Mujuru.
Source - zimlive
