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July 23 2017 – Zimbabwe’s First Lady Grace Mugabeturned 52 on Sunday, with the state run describing her as a great mother.
“A mother, a philanthropist, a First Lady,” says the headline on a special six-page supplement published in her honour by the state-run Sunday Mail.
The newspaper and the supplement carried large, full colour advertisements from Air Zimbabwe and the Mugabes’ own dairy firm, Gushungo Holdings.
“Our loving mother turns 52,” said the airline, where Grace’s son-in-law Simba Chikore holds a senior position.
The tradition of turning Mugabe ’s birthday into a big media event only started after her promotion to the head of the women’s league in 2014.
The only other person in the country to get this kind of attention on his birthday is President Mugabe, giving speculation that Graceis being groomed to eventually take over from her 93-year-old husband, who is set to stand for re-election next year.
A front page story in the Sunday Mail quoted a niece as saying Grace was a caring wife, but also a tough person who can “withstand political pressure.”
“Politics is not an easy game, but she can stand the heat,” said the niece, Farai Chinyani, adding that the First Lady “takes care of her husband all the time.”
Information Minister Christopher Mushohwe went a gear up, describing Grace Mugabe as “a woman of substance” who has a “visibly irrefutable influence in both her philanthropic work and political life.” –News 24
