Rise of Grace Mugabe to top political role seen as dynastical power move

The elevation of Grace Mugabe to Zanu-PF's top decision-making body this weekend has left Zimbabwe's factionalised ruling party in turmoil, having created a new powerbase from which its aging president can influence the movement when he retires.

On Friday night, President Robert Mugabe’s wife made her entry into full time politics when she was nominated as the “sole” candidate to lead the Zanu-PF women’s league, a victory that also catapults her onto the party’s politburo and into the heart of a raging succession storm.

Since Ms Mugabe (49) married into power in the 1990s she has shied away from active politics, preferring to raise three children and run a variety of businesses while her husband has led Zimbabwe through a difficult post-independence period.

However, once the former presidential secretary’s new position is ratified at Zanu-PF’s elective conference in December, she will become one of the country’s most powerful female politicians, and a possible threat to the main two factions in the party seeking to control it.

Zimbabwe's media is awash with theories as to why Ms Mugabe has decided to enter politics now, but a widely accepted belief is that the president (90) is trying to safeguard his family's position and wealth once he leaves active politics. Zimbabwean newspaper NewsDay has reported recently that Zanu-PF insiders suspect Ms Mugabe could be groomed to run for the presidency, and that the prospect of a Mugabe political dynasty was now on the cards.

Indeed, the women’s league meeting held in Harare decided Mr Mugabe, the country’s president for 34 years, should stand as the party’s presidential candidate in 2018 elections, when he will be 94.

During his reign the veteran ruler has continuously avoided naming a successor, even though he has always lamented the factionalism brought on by the lack of a natural heir.

Party infighting nearly cost Zanu-PF its hold on power in the 2008 general elections, when they lost their parliamentary majority and Mr Mugabe was forced into a second round run-off for the presidency and ultimately a powersharing government. The country's deputy president, Joyce Mujuru, is said to be head of the strongest faction seeking to control ZanuPF, while justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and his supporters make up the other.