Grace Mugabe checks into Cape hotel

Grace Mugabe checks into Cape hotel

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By Zenzile Khoisan

GRACE Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is staying in one of Cape Town's top hotels on a private visit.

This was confirmed by the Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa and staff at the exclusive Arabella Sheraton on the Foreshore, who said she had been staying at the hotel since last Friday.

The ambassador, Simon Khaya Moyo, said Mugabe's wife was on a private visit.

She was not in the city on any mission related to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) or on any official business of the Zimbabwean government, he said.

'She is in the country on a private visit'
Moyo could also not confirm whether Grace Mugabe was in Cape Town on a shopping excursion.

"I have been informed that she is in the country on a private visit, and private visits are personal matters," Moyo said.

Informed that the ageing Zimbabwean leader's wife had booked into the hotel under an assumed name, and asked whether specific security arrangements had been made on the South African side, the ambassador merely said that "security is not an issue".

Moyo refused any further comment on the matter and staff at the Zimbawean Embassy refused to confirm whether she had in fact entered the country under the assumed name.

Meanwhile, staff members at the exclusive five-star luxury hotel said they had seen Mugabe at the hotel, and suggested that she might be resident in one of the Tower Clubs rooms on the 16th, 17th and 18th floors.

The rates for the rooms are almost R3 000 a night.

However, following its strict policy on confidentiality, officials of the Arabella refused to confirm either her residency or the exact name under which the Zimbawean VIP was booked into the establishment.

Department of foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa told the Cape Argus he was not aware that Grace Mugabe was in the country.

The Zimbabwean leader's wife has been intensely criticised for shopping sprees in European capitals and also for expensive cross-border shopping expeditions to Johannesburg.

At a time when the Zimbabwe dollar has been severely devalued, Grace Mugabe is reported to have spent large sums on high-priced luxury items.

A year ago she is said to have spent R100 000 over two days during a visit to Johannesburg.
From the Cape Argus (SA)
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