The straw that finally broke the back of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year presidency may have been his wife, suggest David Pilling and Joseph Cotterill for the Financial Times, a day after Zimbabwe’s army placed the president under house arrest.
“Grace Mugabe, who rose from secretary to President Robert Mugabe to Machiavellian aspirant to succeed him as leader of the country, cannot be blamed for all Zanu-PF’s problems. Years of poor policies, brutality and economic chaos have sapped the liberation party of much of its support. In 2008 elections, without the violent state apparatus behind it, Mr Mugabe’s party may well have been pushed from power.
“Yet, Zanu-PF insiders accuse Mrs Mugabe, 52, the president’s second wife, of deepening the rot. Her open pursuit of wealth and her penchant for extravagance symbolized the corruption that has eaten away at the party’s credibility, they say.
“Above all, her ambitions were seen as a threat by the party’s old guard, the veterans of the liberation struggle who dominate the security forces that have provided the linchpin of Mr Mugabe’s rule.”
“Grace Mugabe, who rose from secretary to President Robert Mugabe to Machiavellian aspirant to succeed him as leader of the country, cannot be blamed for all Zanu-PF’s problems. Years of poor policies, brutality and economic chaos have sapped the liberation party of much of its support. In 2008 elections, without the violent state apparatus behind it, Mr Mugabe’s party may well have been pushed from power.
“Yet, Zanu-PF insiders accuse Mrs Mugabe, 52, the president’s second wife, of deepening the rot. Her open pursuit of wealth and her penchant for extravagance symbolized the corruption that has eaten away at the party’s credibility, they say.
“Above all, her ambitions were seen as a threat by the party’s old guard, the veterans of the liberation struggle who dominate the security forces that have provided the linchpin of Mr Mugabe’s rule.”
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