Sometime around 2014, former Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe started strategising on how to rise to the helm of the country’s leadership. In the year 2021 alone, we have had three by-elections in which widows of the fallen MPs threw their hat in the ring to succeed their husbands. This does not mean that widows have not been elected before to succeed their husbands, but it has never been a smooth ride. She vied on ODM party ticket which was the most popular party at the time. Seemingly, widows seeking to succeed their husbands must be politicians in their own right or at least must have made effort to campaign with their husbands and learn the ropes.

Source: Standard Digital May 23, 2021 11:15 UTC