Grace Mugabe, widow of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, was in attendance at the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday. Also present was Bona Chikore, Mugabe’s daughter.
The inauguration was also attended by Joice Mujuru, Zimbabwe’s former vice president under Mugabe. Mujuru was dismissed from her role in 2014.
The presence of Mugabe’s widow and daughter at the swearing-in ceremony signals a potential warming of relations between the family and Mnangagwa. Tensions have existed since Mnangagwa, formerly Mugabe’s vice president, assumed power in 2017 following a military-assisted transition that ousted Mugabe.
A low point in relations came in 2019 when the Mugabe family opposed Mnangagwa’s plan to bury Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre, the national monument built in honour of the former president. Mugabe died in September 2019 after a long illness.
Grace Mugabe has kept a low public profile since her husband left office.
