The spectacular rise and fall of Zimbabwe's uncompromising First Lady, Grace Mugabe, had an unusual beginning: an office affair. President Mugabe is trying to cling to power after the military took over this week in response to his purge of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75, a liberation war fighter and Grace's sworn enemy. When it appeared former vice president Joice Majuru was in line to succeed Mugabe in 2014, he fired her following public rallies at which Grace derided Majuru. In Singapore in 2009, photographer Richard Jones says Grace flew into a rage when he tried to take her picture. In August this year, Grace was accused of beating a young South African model who was partying with her sons.

Source: The Star November 17, 2017 13:41 UTC