Sunday Times

Mnangagwa’s largesse has Mugabes fawning

ED flies Grace home for funeral in luxury

- By JAMES THOMPSON

● A pricey mercy flight in the world’s fastest ultra-long-range luxury business jet has helped heal the rift between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Mugabe family.

Mnangagwa chartered a brand-new $15,000-an-hour Gulfstream G650ER to fly Grace Mugabe home from Singapore after the death on August 30 of her mother, Idah Marufu.

Described as “one of the most coveted aircraft among the global travelling elite”, the plane can travel at up to 956km/h.

The former first lady told mourners at her 83-year-old mother’s wake this week: “I have never boarded such a plane. The crew told me that I was the first person to board it. It is my dream plane. I felt comforted.”

Mnangagwa’s gesture, estimated to have cost at least $330,000, appears to have convinced former president Robert Mugabe that Mnangagwa is the right man to succeed him. Mugabe told mourners at Marufu’s wake: “There was an election. Zanu-PF was represente­d by Emmerson Mnangagwa and the person who won was Mr Mnangagwa.

“We have accepted the result and we hope that we will continue respecting the will of the people. The gun does not and should not lead politics.”

Mugabe said he was grateful Mnangagwa had hired the jet to fly his wife home, and Grace added: “Mnangagwa loves us. He knows we love him too. We pray for him because it’s God’s will that he is president. We pray that he be given the wisdom to lead the country.”

Jealousy Mawarire, spokesman for the Grace-backed National Patriotic Front, tweeted thanks to Mnangagwa. “I want 2 thank Pres @edmnangagw­a & his presidium 4 facilitati­ng the travel of former First Lady Dr Mugabe back home for the funeral of Ambuya Marufu,” he said.

A senior Zanu-PF official said: “The president decided to spare the former first lady the inconvenie­nce of scheduled flights at this difficult time, so a chartered plane was arranged so she could return home as quickly as possible.”

The warm words were a far cry from the campaign Grace led within Zanu-PF against Mnangagwa, who fled to Mozambique after he was sacked as vice-president in October. His firing followed months of humiliatio­n when he was criticised at rallies by Grace, often as he sat in the front row.

He was taken to hospital in SA because he said he was poisoned at a rally he attended with the Mugabes. In June, an explosion at a

I was the first person to board it. It is my dream plane. I felt comforted

Grace Mugabe

rally addressed by Mnangagwa killed two aides and injured two ministers.

Six weeks ago, on the eve of the first election since Mnangagwa ousted him, Mugabe said he would vote for Nelson Chamisa, the MDC Alliance presidenti­al candidate, and that he had never trusted Mnangagwa.

The following day, Mugabe’s 10-strong security detail was reduced to two men.

In January, Mnangagwa visited Morgan Tsvangirai, six weeks before the opposition leader died of colon cancer, winning praise from Chamisa.

But political analyst and law lecturer Alex Magaisa told the Sunday Times opinion was divided on Mnangagwa’s habit of extending olive branches to his enemies when they were in need. “Twice, ED [Mnangagwa] has shown generosity to a rival, first to Morgan Tsvangirai and second to Grace Mugabe,” he said. “Both were in moments of great difficulty. MT [Tsvangirai] was in poor health and Grace had lost her mother. Some find it humane and charming. Others read the acts of a calculatin­g schemer.”

 ??  ?? The Gulfstream is one of five operated by Qatar Executive.
The Gulfstream is one of five operated by Qatar Executive.
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