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Johannesburg — Robert Mugabe’s wife has “staked her claim” to power by presenting herself as a wise adviser to Zimbabwe’s vice-presidents while the faculties of her 91-year-old husband decline.

Grace Mugabe, 49, said she is working closely with the president’s two deputies, adding that both “take notes” while listening to her views on “developmental issues”.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Grace Mugabe, 49, positions herself to take power in Zimbabwe as frail 91-year-old husband fades Back to video

Her words were interpreted as a bid for power after the death or retirement of her husband.

Opening a housing scheme, Grace Mugabe told thousands of people that she was holding regular meetings with the two vice-presidents, Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Both men are at least 20 years her senior and Mnangagwa has served in the cabinet since independence from Britain in 1980.

Mugabe still said that both regularly benefited from her wisdom.

“In the few months they have been in power, I have lost count of the times that I have sat down with them one-on-one to talk about the development of Zimbabwe,” she said. “This is the leadership that we want – servant leaders who know that they are there to work for the people and that they should sit down with the mother to discuss issues.”