Mrs Mugabe, mother of the nation, falls from grace as The Herald turns on her
Zimbabwe’s long-standing government and ruling party mouthpiece, The Herald newspaper, has abruptly changed its tune on President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace — confirmation of her political downfall. The Herald often takes its marching orders from the information ministry, and it has always reported from the point of view of the winning faction in the ruling Zanu-PF, making it a reliable barometer of someone’s political standing. In August, the paper ran a typically fawning portrait of Grace under the headline, A Loving Mother of the Nation. "Loving mother, compassionate philanthropist, astute businesswoman, perceptive politician, remarkable patriot, these are all adjectives that can be used to describe the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe," The Herald wrote. Less than three months later, in the wake of a coup that threatens Mugabe’s presidency and has seen both him and Grace expelled from Zanu-PF, the Herald’s portrayal was starkly different. "Grace Mugabe lacked grooming and true motherh...
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