Mugabe's wife might have eyes on being his successor as Zimbabwe's president
49-year-old positioning herself with key party post as president is now 90
The wife of Zimbabwe's veteran leader Robert Mugabe, who famously punched a photographer in Hong Kong, has been called "Gucci Grace" and "First Shopper". But some suspect she may be looking for a new title - "Mrs President".
As the battle to succeed her 90-year-old husband heats up, 49-year-old Grace has been elected to a top post as head of the ruling Zanu-PF party's women's wing. Jockeying for the leadership of Zanu-PF, which has ruled Zimbabwe for 34 years, has seen vicious factional infighting - with Grace's late entry startling analysts who had seen it as a two-horse race.
The former typist, presumably with Mugabe's backing, has already put paid to the ambitions of one of the top contenders, Vice President Joice Mujuru.
After her nomination as head of the Zanu-PF women's league in August, Grace immediately launched a sustained campaign against Mujuru, accusing her of corruption and plotting to topple her husband.
Last month, Mujuru, a former guerrilla fighter who had held cabinet posts in every Mugabe government since independence in 1980, was ousted from the party leadership. That leaves Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as the remaining top contender - unless, as many are beginning to believe, Grace herself has been chosen by her husband to ensure a Mugabe dynasty in Zimbabwe.
Born on July 23, 1965, in South Africa, Grace Marufu became Mugabe's mistress while working as a secretary in his office in the early 1990s. Both were already married.