{President Robert Mugabe’s daughter was seen on state TV accompanying her father on an official visit to Japan.}<\/p>\n
The move will intensify speculation the 91-year-old is trying to shore up his family’s hold on power, press reports and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said.<\/p>\n
Bona Mugabe, who married pilot Simba Chikore last year, was shown sitting next to her father and Zimbabwe’s Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi during discussions in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
MDC spokesman Obert Gutu tweeted: “So is one Bona Mugabe-Chikore a member of Mugabe’s official delegation to Japan? Zimbabwe has gone to the dogs!”<\/p>\n
There was spirited reaction on social media, with popular blogger @CynicHarare tweeting:<\/p>\n
{One day, when my family also owns a country, I will take my daughter to work like others also. } <\/p>\n
Said Zimbabwean journalist @nqabamatshazi: “Father is the owner of the country, mother controls the country, now it looks like daughter is the heir to the country.”<\/p>\n
Analysts suggest the sudden rise of Mugabe’s wife Grace in Zimbabwe’s deeply-divided political arena may be part of a plan to ensure the “first family” retains its hold on power, after Mugabe retires or dies.<\/p>\n
Grace is now head of the ruling ZANU-PF party’s powerful women’s league, and she has hinted she won’t be content with just that.<\/p>\n
Bona, 24, is Mugabe’s first child with Grace, born while his first wife Sally was still alive. She graduated with a Masters degree in banking and finance in Singapore in 2013.<\/p>\n
The state broadcaster is reporting that Japan has pledged US2.6 million (R32.4m) to help Zimbabwe’s disaster preparedness programmes.<\/p>\n
Reports say Mugabe took an entourage of 100 on the trip with him.<\/p>\n
Times Live<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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