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President Mugabe greets Cde Simon Khaya Moyo while First Lady Grace Mugabe and VP Joice Mujuru look on at Harare International Airport yesterday

Harare Bureau
FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe yesterday declined a handshake with Vice President Joice Mujuru at the Harare International Airport where senior government officials were welcoming President Mugabe on his return from Italy.
The First Lady did not shake hands with Cde Mujuru when President Mugabe left for Italy last Saturday.

President Mugabe’s wife used her recent “meet the people” rallies to rebuke a senior Zanu-PF and government official who she accused of corruption, causing divisions in the party and of having links with the opposition.

The remarks were widely believed to be a reference to Cde Mujuru. She advised the said official to apologise to President Mugabe or risk “being dumped”.

Upon his arrival yesterday, President Mugabe greeted Cde Mujuru, who was Acting President in his absence, the Senior Minister of State Simon Khaya Moyo, Information Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo and the Harare Provincial Affairs Minister Miriam Chikukwa, among others.

The First Lady, who was following behind the President, ignored VP Mujuru’s extended hand and instead greeted Ambassador Khaya Moyo, who was next and other officials.

After greeting the waiting officials, the First Lady chatted with Cde Khaya Moyo while President Mugabe conversed with VP Mujuru following which he talked briefly with service chiefs.

Outside the domestic terminal, Zanu-PF supporters who had turned up to welcome President Mugabe were denied entry into the security zone. It was not immediately clear why they were denied entry or who had brought them to the airport.

A Zanu-PF politburo meeting tomorrow is expected to tackle factionalism and the role of the said official, with party spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo saying the allegations raised by the First Lady could not be ignored.