Fall of a First Lady

her husband did not act fast enough. By the December 2014 Congress, Mujuru and her allies had been ousted and Amai Mugabe found herself a Politburo member as Women’s League secretary.

Her style of politics was different. When she got up to speak many learnt to expect a spectacle and rarely did she disappoint. It was, however, not an exhibition to be celebrated but one akin to a circus, where behind closed doors people questioned her sanity. She would unexpectedly erupt into outbursts against everyone she suspected to be her enemy or to pause a threat to her husband’s position.

Her speeches were often off the cuff. Her language was far from diplomatic. It was crude, insulting and sent many a man cringing. At one rally she told the gathering that the two Vice Presidents took notes from her.

For a while, following the departure of Mujuru, Amai Mugabe calmed down. But over the last two years, with the issue of succession gaining momentum in Zanu-PF, factionalism found new roots and her sights turned to VP Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa who had replaced Cde Mujuru.

This time Amai Mugabe was said to have a faction of her own going by the moniker Generation 40 (G40). She had teamed up with Professor Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao to push their own succession agenda, all the time brandishing President Mugabe’s name.

Rumours began swirling later that Amai Mugabe was, in fact, not defending her husband; she wanted to succeed him herself, hence her entry into politics at the 2014 Congress.

“Why would I want to succeed him?” she said at first. “I already have power because my husband in the President,” she proclaimed.

In a similar fashion to Mujuru, Amai Mugabe later started attacking those accused of being aligned to Cde Mnangagwa and his alleged named Lacoste. Those targeted were either subjected to kangaroo-type disciplinary action from the party or summary expulsion through choreographed votes of no confidence.

When her G40 allies were targeted she came to their defence. Professor Moyo was alleged to have misappropriated Zimdef funds. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission sought to arrest him and have him answer for his reported crimes. Amai Mugabe would hear none of that. During Presidential Youth Interface Rallies she exonerated him and said that it was the Lacoste faction pushing an agenda against Prof Moyo.

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