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First Lady Grace Mugabe

Tendai Mugabe Harare Bureau
THE Zanu-PF Youth League yesterday endorsed the recommendation by the Women’s League that First Lady Grace Mugabe be appointed the Secretary for Women’s League at the party’s National People’s Congress slated for December.
The unanimous endorsement was made at a function held at Amai Mugabe’s Children’s Home in Mazowe.
Zanu-PF Secretary for the Youth League, Cde Absolom Sikhosana, was the first to announce the League’s position, followed by all the country’s 10 provincial Youth League chairpersons.

“We have one reason for being here and that reason only,” said Cde Sikhosana. We have come to back the resolution by the Women’s League which is led by Amai (Oppah) Muchinguri to ask our mother to lead the Zanu-PF Women’s League.

“We are here for that reason to come and support, to come and affirm, to come and bear testimony that as your Youth League we are behind and supportive of our resolution to lead women.”

All the provincial Youth League chairpersons roundly condemned some party big wigs who were interfering in their elections to take place at their conference starting tomorrow.

They pleaded with First Lady to inform President Mugabe of the threats they were receiving from senior party members who wanted to influence the outcome of the elections.

In response, the First Lady said although it was the prerogative of the President to appoint the Secretary for the Women’s League, she was ready to work with the youths to advance the cause of the liberation struggle.

“Yes, that is my wish,” she said. “This position (Secretary for Women’s League) awaits the endorsement of the party elders.
“I will commit myself to work with you… I will talk to your elders, but I am very strict. I will only stand with you if I see that your wishes are being done”.

The First Lady rapped factionalism in the party, especially among big wigs who were jostling for various positions ahead of the congress.
She urged people to be patient, adding that she was not harbouring political ambitions, but several people were coming to her pleading that she should lead the Women’s League.

“I never thought for one day that I would be actively involved in politics,” she said. “I never for a day asked that come let’s speak, I want you to support me because I hear some newspapers alleging that she wants this, she wants that.

“But anyway, I am never intimidated by anyone. They can go and write whatever they want, they can even write books, and have their plans, but their plans will come to naught.”

The First Lady said it was disturbing that Zanu-PF members were fighting amongst themselves, yet they had a common enemy to fight.
“Why are you fighting in Zanu-PF?” she asked.

The First Lady took a swipe at some Zanu-PF leaders using money to buy votes ahead of the December congress.
On a lighter note, she said she had been married to the President for almost 30 years and it was the President’s choice to have two wives.

She said most men were hiding their second wives.
“We are tired of small houses (mistresses)… we see lots of drama at the Heroes Acre when women come with children in tow claiming to be so and so’s wife,” she said.
The First Lady said Zimbabweans knew the kind of a person she was, adding that she was committed to working for the country.

“They shall see,” she said. “It is question of time. My time has come now to show people what I am made of.”
She said the youths should be allowed to choose their leaders without interference of other senior party leaders.

“I see the youth are speaking with a steely determination and they have emboldened me,” she said. “We say NO to politics of subjugation and intimidation.”
She urged Zanu-PF youths to be peaceful and shun violence.