Grace Mugabe
Grace Ntombizodwa Mugabe (née Marufu; born 23 July 1965) is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur, politician and the widow of the late President Robert Mugabe. She served as the First Lady of Zimbabwe from 1996 until her husband's resignation in November 2017, a week after he was ousted from power. Starting as a secretary to Mugabe, she rose in the ranks of the ruling ZANU–PF party to become the head of its Women's League and a key figure in the Generation 40 faction. At the same time, she gained a reputation for privilege and extravagance during a period of economic turmoil in the country. She was given the nickname Gucci Grace due to her extravagance. She was expelled from the party, with other G40 members, during the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état.
Grace Mugabe | |
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Mugabe in 2013 | |
| First Lady of Zimbabwe | |
| In role 17 August 1996 – 21 November 2017 | |
| President | Robert Mugabe |
| Preceded by | Sally Mugabe |
| Succeeded by | Auxillia Mnangagwa |
| 6th Secretary of the ZANU–PF Women's League | |
| In office 6 December 2014 – December 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Oppah Muchinguri |
| Succeeded by | Mabel Chinomona |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Grace Ntombizodwa Marufu 23 July 1965 Benoni, South Africa |
| Political party | ZANU-PF (2014–2017, expelled) |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 4, including Bona and Robert Mugabe junior |
| Residence | Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Education | Renmin University of China University of Zimbabwe (disputed) |
| Occupation |
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| Nickname | Gucci Grace |
Mugabe was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2014.