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| (FILES) This file photograph taken on June 2, 2017 shows Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe (L) with his wife Grace Mugabe (R) as they raise their fists in a vehicle before meeting delegates during a Zimbabwe ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union Ð Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) youth rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera.President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace on July 27, 2017, has urged her 93-year-old husband to name his chosen successor, fuelling renewed speculation about the race to take over from the world’s oldest national leader. Mugabe has always refused to publicly reveal his favoured heir, but 52-year-old Grace Mugabe — who is seen by some as a potential candidate — called for an end to the uncertainty./ AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA |
Zimbabwe on Friday said it would not extradite Grace Mugabe, wife of former president Robert Mugabe, after an arrest warrant was issued in South Africa for her alleged assault of a model in 2017.
The 53-year-old reportedly attacked Gabrielle Engels using an electrical extension cord at an upmarket hotel in Johannesburg’s business district of Sandton where the Mugabes’ two sons were staying.
“We will not smile at something like that, for her to be harassed, embarrassed or ill-treated,” deputy information minister Energy Mutodi told AFP.
“This incident happened when she was in office and she was granted diplomatic immunity. They can’t now come back now and say they want to prosecute her. We are not going to support any extradition.”
The Randburg Magistrates Court in Gauteng province issued the warrant of arrest on December 13, charging Mugabe with “assault causing grievous bodily harm”.
South African police say they hope to arrest her, without giving further details.
Engels, now 21, suffered cuts to her forehead and the back of her head in the incident.
At the time, the government granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity, allowing her to hurriedly leave South Africa.
A court scrapped the immunity in July, labelling the decision by the foreign ministry as “inconsistent with the constitution”.
Robert Mugabe, 94, was ousted as president in November 2017 after a military takeover when generals stepped in to ensure that his wife was not in line to succeed him.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his former deputy, recently revealed Mugabe had been in Singapore for medical care and was now unable to walk because of ill health and old age.
The couple’s whereabouts are unknown.
Grace, a regular visitor to South Africa, earned the nickname “Gucci Grace” for her lavish lifestyle as Zimbabwe’s economy collapsed under her husband’s authoritarian rule.
The 53-year-old reportedly attacked Gabrielle Engels using an electrical extension cord at an upmarket hotel in Johannesburg’s business district of Sandton where the Mugabes’ two sons were staying.
“We will not smile at something like that, for her to be harassed, embarrassed or ill-treated,” deputy information minister Energy Mutodi told AFP.
“This incident happened when she was in office and she was granted diplomatic immunity. They can’t now come back now and say they want to prosecute her. We are not going to support any extradition.”
The Randburg Magistrates Court in Gauteng province issued the warrant of arrest on December 13, charging Mugabe with “assault causing grievous bodily harm”.
South African police say they hope to arrest her, without giving further details.
Engels, now 21, suffered cuts to her forehead and the back of her head in the incident.
At the time, the government granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity, allowing her to hurriedly leave South Africa.
A court scrapped the immunity in July, labelling the decision by the foreign ministry as “inconsistent with the constitution”.
Robert Mugabe, 94, was ousted as president in November 2017 after a military takeover when generals stepped in to ensure that his wife was not in line to succeed him.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his former deputy, recently revealed Mugabe had been in Singapore for medical care and was now unable to walk because of ill health and old age.
The couple’s whereabouts are unknown.
Grace, a regular visitor to South Africa, earned the nickname “Gucci Grace” for her lavish lifestyle as Zimbabwe’s economy collapsed under her husband’s authoritarian rule.
AFP
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