Share

Mnangagwa spends more than half a million US 'to mend fences with Mugabes': report

A private newspaper in Zimbabwe says President Emmerson Mnangagwa spent more than half a million US dollars to fly former first lady Grace Mugabe home to attend her mother’s funeral.

The $550 000 was used to charter a top-of-the range jet from a company in Qatar, said the private Standard newspaper.

“The money, it has been established, was sourced by a local business tycoon with vast interests in energy, mining and agriculture, who is close to Mnangagwa,” the paper said. 

'Good politics'

Grace was reported to be unwell and in Singapore last month. She was still there when her 83-year-old mother, Idah Marufu, died in Harare on August 30.

Zanu-PF officials have not confirmed the Standard's claim about the hefty cost of getting Grace Mugabe back to Zimbabwe, but the party’s legal secretary Paul Mangwana said “good politics is expensive”.

“Good politics requires us to treat our former leaders with respect and show compassion to them,” Mangwana added.

An unnamed party insider said Mnangagwa was desperate to patch up his differences with the Mugabes because the former president still has supporters in some rural constituencies.

'Mugabe still has support'

“Mugabe still has supporters in the countryside and it is in Mnangagwa’s interest to have the old man on his side,” the insider was quoted as saying. "So the death of Ambuya (grandmother) Idah presented an opportunity for Mnangagwa to mend relations with his mentor."

Mugabe vowed not to vote for Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF on the eve of the July 30 elections. But last week he said he now accepted his successor as the legitimately-elected president, and said everyone should support him, according to the state-run Chronicle.

“The person who won was Emmerson Mnangagwa and I said now it’s clear,” he said. 

* Sign up to News24's top Africa news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO THE HELLO AFRICA NEWSLETTER

FOLLOW News24 Africa on Twitter and Facebook

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 300 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 425 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.98
-0.4%
Rand - Pound
23.97
-0.3%
Rand - Euro
20.51
-0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.37
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.5%
Platinum
904.37
+0.8%
Palladium
1,014.65
+1.3%
Gold
2,211.77
+0.8%
Silver
24.71
+0.3%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,332
+1.0%
All Share
74,512
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,108
+2.6%
Industrial 25
104,079
+0.8%
Financial 15
16,481
-0.3%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE