Mugabe’s wife given immunity after assault accusation

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Granted diplomatic immunity by South Africa, the wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned home from Johannesburg on Sunday despite calls that she be prosecuted for allegedly assaulting a young model at a luxury hotel there.

Zimbabwean state broadcaster ZBC showed Grace Mugabe greeting government and military officials at the Harare airport after returning on an Air Zimbabwe plane with her husband, who had attended a summit of southern African leaders in Pretoria.

South Africa’s foreign minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, granted immunity to Grace Mugabe in a government notice published Sunday. Signed Saturday, the notice recognizes “the immunities and privileges of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Grace Mugabe.”

South African police had previously issued a “red alert” at borders to ensure she didn’t leave undetected and had said they were waiting for a government decision on the immunity appeal.

The country’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, called for a parliamentary inquiry into South Africa’s decision to let the Zimbabwean first lady leave and said on Twitter that the government has “no more legitimacy in the arena of international diplomacy and displays a total disregard for the rule of law.”

John Steenhuisen, a senior opposition official, compared the South African handling of the Mugabe case to the government’s decision to allow Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to leave the country in 2015 even though he was wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, the African News Agency reported.

Gabriella Engels, a 20-yearold model, said Grace Mugabe attacked her on Aug. 13, whipping her with an extension cord that cut her forehead.

In reaction to the news that Grace Mugabe had returned to Zimbabwe, a group representing Engels said Sunday it will go to court to challenge the South African government over the immunity issue.

Grace Mugabe has been criticized for a fiery temper and lavish shopping sprees, but her rising political profile has some asking whether she is maneuvering to succeed her husband. She recently urged restoration of a provision in the constitution stating that one of the party’s vice presidents should be a woman.