{"id":982,"date":"2013-11-19T09:52:30","date_gmt":"2013-11-19T08:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/?p=982"},"modified":"2023-01-07T18:59:45","modified_gmt":"2023-01-07T17:59:45","slug":"grace-mugabe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/grace-mugabe\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Things You Didn’t Know About The Glamorous Grace Mugabe"},"content":{"rendered":"
Grace Mugabe (born on 23 July 1965) is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur and politician best known as the former Zimbabwean First Lady and the wife of late President Robert Mugabe.<\/strong><\/p>\n You have probably heard a lot about Grace Mugabe who is irrefutably the most extravagant First Lady in the world. She has been criticized all over the world for going on expensive shopping sprees amidst a crippling financial crisis back in Zimbabwe which has seen millions starving. She is, however, unapologetic and claims that most of the money she uses is legally hers. Because she is such a public figure and she enjoys all the attention we want to highlight certain things that are not so well-known about her. Below are 12 things you did not know about Mrs Grace Mugabe:<\/p>\n Perhaps the adage age is just but a number is best exemplified in the union between President Mugabe and his current wife. By the time they were marrying officially in 1996, Grace was only 31 while Mugabe was 72. They, however, had already sired two kids between them by that time.<\/p>\n See Also:\u00a012 Things You Didn\u2019t Know About Joyce Banda of Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Grace Mugabe began her clandestine relationship with the Zimbabwean President when she was still working for him as a secretary. At that time, she was wife to Stanley Goreraza with whom she had a son and Mugabe was still with his late wife Sally Hayfron.<\/p>\n Following the sanctions placed on President Mugabe and his inner circle, the EU expanded the list of banned persons to include Mrs Grace Mugabe. This action is thought to have been a deliberate attempt to stop the First Lady from her lavish trips to European capitals whilst her citizens suffer.<\/p>\n Since lavishness was part of her favoured vocabulary, it was not surprising to see the First Lady launch the construction of two palaces in Zimbabwe. It is said that most of the money came from ZANU-PF coffers at a cost of USD 26 million. What took many by surprise was her decision to sell one of the palaces to former Libyan dictator the late Muammar Gaddafi.<\/p>\n Following 2010 reports released by popular leaking site, Wikileaks, that she is among those who are looting diamonds in eastern Zimbabwe, Mrs Grace Mugabe sued the local The Standard newspaper for libel<\/a>. She wants to be paid USD 15 million by the newspaper for providing false claims to Wikileaks.<\/p>\n Grace Mugabe first went round Zimbabwe and chose for herself Iron Mask Estate which was the property of John Mathews and Eva Mathews. She also has estates in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Her daughter, Bona Mugabe, studied at the City University of Hong Kong and at the time of her study, she lived in the house her mother purchased there.<\/p>\n One of the hallmarks of Grace Mugabe’s spending was during a trip to the French capital, Paris, where she spent an astonishing USD120, 000 in 2003. She is nicknamed “Gucci Grace.” The following year, it was reported that the Zimbabwe Central Bank paid her GBP 5 million from the public coffers.<\/p>\n Grace Mugabe seems to attract attention from everywhere for the wrong reasons. Photographer Richard Jones, who worked for The Times was attacked by Mrs Mugabe and her bodyguard in Hong Kong 2009 and sustained injuries from cuts by the diamond rings the First Lady was wearing. China, however, did not charge Mrs Mugabe due to diplomatic immunity with regard to her status.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The First Lady built a modern high school in Mazowe which goes by the name Grace\u2019s Amai High School. The learning institution is targeted to the poor according to the President’s wife but the fee is set for USD 3,500 for each term of three months. Comparatively, it stands as one of the most expensive.<\/p>\n The First Lady is said to be developing a university and a hospital on the same land that the high school and a junior school stand in Mazoe. All the facilities are being put up with the help of Chinese contractors.<\/p>\n Although her husband legally acquired numerous degrees during his incarceration, a feat that no other world leader has ever achieved, Grace Mugabe<\/strong> is said to be challenged academically. Media reports indicated that leaked results from a university in China showed poor performance from the First Lady, a trend that has slipped over to their son Robert Mugabe Junior.<\/p>\n12 Lesser Known Facts You Must Know About Grace Mugabe<\/span><\/h2>\n
She is 41 Years Younger Than President Mugabe<\/h3>\n
She Divorced her Husband Because of Robert Mugabe<\/h3>\n
The Travel Ban Place On Mugabe By The European Union Was Extended To Her<\/h3>\n
She Sold a Palace to Muammar Gaddafi<\/h3>\n
She Sued a Newspaper for Libel<\/h3>\n
She has Homes in Zimbabwe, China and Malaysia<\/h3>\n
Grace Mugabe spent USD 120,000 on a short shopping spree<\/h3>\n
She is on Record for Having Assaulted a Journalist<\/h3>\n
She Started a High School in Mazoe<\/h3>\n
She has Began Construction of a University and Hospital<\/h3>\n
Grace Mugabe is not Academically Gifted<\/h3>\n