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Grace Mugabe ditches plan to land cabinet post – report

Cape Town – Zimbabwen First Lady Grace Mugabe has reportedly ditched her alleged plan to land a cabinet post after her name didn't appear on a list of Zanu-PF party candidates due to participate in the country's June by-elections.

Under Zimbabwean laws, the president is required to appoint his cabinet from among elected members of parliament.

According to NewZimbabwe.com Grace had been rumoured to be earmarked for appointment as women's affairs minister following her entry into mainstream politics last year after she was confirmed the women's league boss in the Zanu-PF politburo.

But following last week's events the first lady seemed to have abandoned her ambitions.

Health and smiling Grace

With the expulsion last month of 21 former Movement for Democratic Change members of parliament, it was reported that Grace would contest the Harare East seat which was occupied by Tendai Biti.  

State-owned newspaper The Herald on Monday reported that Terrence Mukupe would represent the ruling party in Harare East.

The reports cement President Robert Mugabe's remarks last week where he told journalists in South Africa that his wife didn't have ambitions for Zimbabwe's presidency, saying she was content with focussing on women's issues and her charitable projects.

"She doesn't have those ambitions. No, I don't think so," he said. "She has accepted the post of being secretary for women's affairs and she has got her own charity to care for," Mugabe was quoted by The Telegraph as saying.

A healthy and smiling Grace appeared on her husband's side during their visit to South Africa last week, dispelling media reports that she was gravely ill.

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