Zimbabwe 1st lady roils political scene with entry

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 file photo Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, left, and his wife Grace greet the crowd during birthday marking Mugabe's 90th birthday, in Marondera, Zimbabwe. She has expensive tastes, owns a lot of land in Zimbabwe and is now entering politics, a move that is roiling this southern African nation that has known only one leader since independence: President Robert Mugabe, who is 90 years old. The newcomer is Mugabe's 49-year-old wife Grace, who accepted a nomination last month to lead the ruling party's women's wing, triggering accusations that Mugabe aims to set a political dynasty in place. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File) FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 file photo Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, left, and his wife Grace greet the crowd during birthday marking Mugabe's 90th birthday, in Marondera, Zimbabwe. She has expensive tastes, owns a lot of land in Zimbabwe and is now entering politics, a move that is roiling this southern African nation that has known only one leader since independence: President Robert Mugabe, who is 90 years old. The newcomer is Mugabe's 49-year-old wife Grace, who accepted a nomination last month to lead the ruling party's women's wing, triggering accusations that Mugabe aims to set a political dynasty in place. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

By Associated Press August 29, 2014 5 min read

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – She has expensive tastes, owns a lot of land in Zimbabwe and is now entering politics, a move that is roiling this southern African nation that has known only one leader since independence: President Robert Mugabe, who is 90 years old.

The newcomer is Mugabe’s 49-year-old wife Grace, who accepted a nomination last month to lead the ruling party’s women’s wing, triggering accusations that Mugabe aims to set a political dynasty in place. Her nomination has already caused infighting in the ZANU-PF ruling party, with some claiming they’ve been intimidated.

The ZANU-PF Women’s League said they hope Mrs. Mugabe can advance women’s issues and help heal factionalism because she has “the president’s ear.”

But, like her husband, Mrs. Mugabe has a knack for giving speeches with fiery and hostile language.

In July, during her acceptance speech for the ZANU-PF post, she all but threatened the deputy justice minister and parliament member Fortune Chasi who, she said, has frustrated her efforts to acquire more land and a conservancy near her farm that is an animal sanctuary with gold reserves, where some villagers now live and pan for gold.