First Lady seriously ill

By The Standard and Newsday | Mar. 26, 2015

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe is reportedly in Dubai seeking medical treatment as her health reportedly continues to deteriorate, although some sources claim she is in Singapore, raising further speculation where she might be.

Everson Mushava Chief Reporter

Sources said Mugabe’s Gushungo clan was now seeking spiritual intervention to save Grace and resolve other problems the First Family is facing.

Grace, who dominated Zimbabwe’s political scene late last year soon after being nominated to lead the Zanu PF women’s league, has not made a public appearance since March 8 when she officiated at International Women’s Day commemorations, fuelling speculation that she could be facing serious health problems.

In January, Grace was forced to remain in Singapore after the First Family’s annual holiday, as her husband President Robert Mugabe returned home alone.

Mugabe told Zanu PF supporters on arrival back home at the Harare International Airport that his wife had remained behind recuperating from a minor surgery to remove her appendix.

But our sister paper NewsDay has been reliably informed Grace is battling ill health and slipped out of the country a few days ago to seek further treatment in Dubai.

Mugabe has been globe-trotting without his wife.

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In Japan, Mugabe’s daughter Bona Chikore was forced to fly from Dubai to sit by her father’s side during official meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Mugabe reportedly flew to Singapore to see his wife both on his way to Japan and on his way back, where he left Bona with her mother when he returned.

Mugabe’s elder son Robert Junior is based in Dubai, further spawning rumours that Grace may be in that country.

Grace has missed several local and regional meetings and functions, where her husband was a guest.

She has missed the Algerian trip where Mugabe presently is and the Namibian jaunt for the inauguration of new President Hage Geingob.

Sources said Mugabe was expected to fly to Asia to see Grace before returning home from Algeria, where he presently is on an official visit.

Grace failed to make it to Kutama College in Zvimba at the weekend for the school’s centenary celebrations, where her husband intimated that he was weary, having only slept two hours.

On Tuesday, acting President Phelekezela Mphoko had to stand in for the First Lady when he received about $1,5 million worth of clothes and food stuffs from a South Africa-based non-governmental organisation Givers Foundation at State House.

The donation was for about 3 500 flood victims in the Hurungwe constituency.

Givers Foundation donated nappies for children at Grace’s Mazowe orphanage home.

It could not be established what Grace was suffering from, but close sources said the First Lady was battling with cancer.

Presidential spokesperson Gorge Charamba was not picking calls to shed light on the whereabouts of Grace, who played a central role in the demolition of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s faction before the party’s December 2014 congress.

NewsDay is reliably informed that the Gushungo family, Mugabe’s clan, will from today hold a spiritual indaba in Marongowe Mountain in Zvimba to seek divine intervention on many issues, including Grace’s failing health.

The indaba will end on Sunday and family members will not be allowed to bring food except roasted and pounded maize.

According to sources, one of the spirit mediums only identified as Dutsa, was already at the mountain waiting for the family members to arrive this afternoon.

“We will be seeking spiritual guidance on social problems that are affecting the family such as failure to secure jobs and preservation of our sacred places.

“Yes, we are worried about the failing health of our mother (Grace),” said a Gushungo clan member, who declined to be named for security reasons.

“We will thank the ancestors.

“They have done a good job and our leader President Robert Mugabe is now leading the whole of Africa.”