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continent, according to a list compiled by business magazine Forbes.
The world renowned magazine named the Vice President as the fifth most powerful woman on the continent.
“Joice Mujuru has been Zimbabwe’s Vice President since 2004. She is also Vice President of the ruling Zanu-PF and was married to the late Solomon Mujuru, who was seen as a kingmaker in Zimbabwean political circles,” read this month’s edition of the magazine.
“She joined the liberation movement in 1973 and fought as a guerilla fighter in the bush war.”
In an interview yesterday, VP Mujuru said the honour was not only significant to her personally, but to the country at large.
“Surely, it’s something to be happy about but it doesn’t end with me,” she said.
“It also spreads to the community, to the persons that are supporting me in whatever they have seen worthy or credible talking about in terms of my contribution to the nation.
“To me, it’s a credit that should go to my fellow comrades, those that fought with me in the trenches during the war and now, and this I would also want to dedicate to my late husband without whom I would not have managed to be free and about, doing my business without hindrance.
“You know very few men would allow you to do your business.”
VP Mujuru paid tribute to Zanu-PF and its leadership.
“And mind you, without the party and His Excellency President Mugabe I wouldn’t have done what I have done in life, which most people have seen and read about because this has to do with community programmes where I have been promoting family dignity,” she said.
VP Mujuru hailed President Mugabe for making her what she is, when he made sure she returned to school soon after independence.
She had left school to join the liberation struggle at a tender age.
VP Mujuru said she took delight in identifying herself with poor people.
Liberian president, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was named as the most powerful woman on the continent followed by Nigerian Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The third most powerful woman was Mrs Joyce Banda, who was appointed Vice President of Malawi in May 2009, becoming the country’s first female vice president. She is expected to contest the 2014 presidential elections.
The magazine named Mrs Gill Marcus, Governor of the Reserve Bank of South Africa as the fourth most powerful woman in Africa.
Online Reporter