[32] A professor at the University of Hong Kong said Beijing was trying to stay out of the controversy. President Robert Mugabe and wife Grace Mugabe are shown at a rally in Zimbabwe on July 29. Zimbabwe's president refuses to arrest Robert Mugabe's wife for 'plundering $1billion' GRACE MUGABE has so far evaded scrutiny from the government for suspected misuse of … [41] She faces similar sanctions in the United States. She also acquired property holdings in Hong Kong, including a diamond cutting business and a property at Tai Po, New Territories. The United States instituted similar restrictions. REVEREND Cossam Chiangwa, the president of one of the rival Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church and his wife were a fortnight ago denied exit to Dubai, on suspicion that their paperwork was not in order, chiefly presentation of alleged fake Covid-19 certificates, Zim Morning Post can reveal. After the death of Mugabe's first wife, Sally Hayfron, the couple were married in an extravagant Catholic Mass (Robert Mugabe was a devout Catholic) titled the "Wedding of the Century" by the Zimbabwe press. [50], Mugabe's reputation for violence and hot temper earned her the nickname of "Dis-Grace" at home. [39][19] The Daily Telegraph called her "notorious at home for her profligacy" in the coverage of a 2003 trip to Paris,[40] during which she was reported as spending £75,000 (approx US$120,000) in a short shopping spree; and in the years leading up to 2004 withdrew over £5 million from the Central Bank of Zimbabwe. [5] Starting as a secretary to President Mugabe, she rose in the ranks of the ruling ZANU–PF party to become the head of its Women's League and a key figure in the Generation 40 faction. [19] There have also been incidents abroad: The Times reported on 18 January 2009 that, while on a shopping trip in Hong Kong where her daughter Bona Mugabe was a university student,[51] Mugabe ordered her bodyguard to assault Sunday Times photographer Richard Jones outside her luxury hotel. [citation needed], In November 2017, Grace was instrumental in the firing of the then Vice-President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, after reprimanding him for causing divisions in Zanu PF. During her tenure as first lady, Grace Mugabe oversaw the construction of two palaces. The second was completed in 2007, costing around $50 million. She chose the Iron Mask Estate, which had been previously owned by farmers John and Eva Matthews. She then joined in the attack, punching Jones repeatedly in the face while wearing diamond encrusted rings, causing him cuts and abrasions. [20] Since 2016, the first lady's involvement in ZANU-PF in-house politics has seen rumours pointing out that she is fronting one of the party's secretive factions, the G40 (Generation 40). Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe raise their fists to greet party members and supporters gathered at his party headquarters to show support to Grace Mugabe becoming the... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Cynthia Goba. Zimbabwe faces a profound economic crisis exacerbated by drought. [49] Levi Nyagura, the vice chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, was arrested in 2018 by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to be charged with abuse of office following an investigation into the PhD. [11][12], Whilst working as secretary to the president, Robert Mugabe, she became his mistress at a time when she was still married to Stanley Goreraza – and had two children, Bona born in 1988, named after Mugabe's mother, and Robert Peter Jr.[13]. [31] The Beijing central government dismissed the concerns, adding that Falun Gong members were allowed to buy properties in Hong Kong. Grace Ntombizodwa Mugabe (née Marufu; born 23 July 1965)[2] is an entrepreneur, politician and the widow of the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. The country was in heightened tension and soon after that while Emmerson Mnangagwa had sought refuge outside of Zimbabwe, the military took over in a bloodless coup under General Constantino Chiwenga. The construction was funded by the ZANU-PF party to thank Robert Mugabe for his political service. [9], She married air force pilot Stanley Goreraza[10] and they had a son, Russell Goreraza, born 1984. Born in Benoni, South Africa, she became wedded to Robert in what was dubbed Zimbabwe’s “Wedding of the Century” following the death of the president’s first wife, Sally Hayfron after suffering kidney failure in 1992. President Robert Mugabe kisses his wife and first lady Grace Mugabe during during the country's 37th Independence Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare April 18, 2017. The first, commonly referred to as "Gracelands", was criticised for its extravagance. [24], After observers from the European Union were barred from examining Zimbabwe's 2002 elections, the EU imposed sanctions on 20 members of the Zimbabwe leadership and then, in July, extended them to include Grace Mugabe and 51 others, banning them from travelling to participating countries and freezing any assets held there. October 2017 marked Grace Mugabe's peak political influence in ZANU PF. The wife of Zimbabwe’s vice-president, Constantino Chiwenga, has been accused of attempting to kill him by disconnecting his life support while he was undergoing treatment in hospital this year. [23] When Robert Mugabe died on 6 September 2019, both Mugabes were in Singapore. Fringe opposition leader, Tinashe Jonasi (42), was on Wednesday dragged to court on charges of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authority after he allegedly claimed the Zanu PF leader of “bedding a top politician wife.” Jonasi appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa and was not asked to plead. [58] After President Robert Mugabe got deposed by Emmerson Mnangagwa, Gabriella Engels posted a tweet vowing revenge on Grace Mugabe. After charges were laid by Engels for "assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm", Grace was due to appear at a Johannesburg court on 15 August 2017, but failed to do so;[57] she was subsequently granted diplomatic immunity. Marry Mubaiwa, who is the wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, was arrested by Zimbabwe's anti-graft commission on Saturday. She graduated in 2011. [9] In 1970, she moved to Rhodesia, to live with her mother, Idah Marufu in Chivhu while her father stayed and worked in South Africa to support his family. 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