Robert Mugabe's wife has sparked rumours that she might succeed the 90-year-old president.

Grace Mugabe was nominated as secretary of the ruling Zanu PF party's Women's League.

According to Zimbabwean newspapers this is widely viewed as a first step towards succeeding her husband Robert  if he decides to quit.

Insiders fear she is converting  her clout into a personal political power base, possibly eyeing the presidency although some see this as a long shot.

Tendai Biti, the former finance minister and an MP for the Movement for Democratic Change and, said Grace Mugabe “will be the next president of Zanu PF when Mugabe goes”.

Grace, 49, became the president’s second wife after serving as a secretary in his typing pool when she married him in 1996, a year after the death of his first wife, Sally, a Ghanaian. The couple have three children, two of whom were born while the first Mrs Mugabe was still alive.

Unanimously picked as the sole candidate for Women's Secretary by a carefully-selected group of female Zanu PF members from the provinces at what was billed as her 49th birthday party but insiders said was a staged political meeting in the grounds of a children’s home she runs in Mazowe district about 20 miles west of Harare.

Zimbabwe’s Independent newspaper quoted women’s league insiders as saying the announcement would be a “major upset” for both the current frontrunners to succeed Mugabe; Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa, the justice minister.

The group credits itself with previously propelling  Mujuru into the vice-presidency, but analysts told The Telegraph the entry of Mugabe into politics could be a blow to her ambitions.

SOURCE: Telegraph