A recent study by a group of South African academics has confirmed the widely held view that former First Lady, Grace Mugabe used her proximity to former President Robert Mugabe to interfere with government decisions and was closely embedded in her husband's leadership fights within Zanu-PF. The African First Ladies Database which was released this week by academics Jo-Ansie van Myk and Chidochashe Nyere, says the role played by the wives of heads of state in Africa has been largely ignored. New Zimbabwe reports that they include Janet Museveni, wife of Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, and Denise Nkurunziza, wife of Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza. The report says Mugabe was a power broker and member of an inner circle which used strategies to support her husband's career through downplaying, denying or simply remaining silent on the failures of Mugabe's Government. ‘She was successful in gaining support for her husband's tenure as well as her own political ambitions from religious leaders, youth and the Women's League, traditional leaders, and minority apostolic churches,’ it states.