Mugabe's wife Grace sparks outrage after saying women are to blame if they are raped and that wearing mini-skirts 'invited men to drool'

Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe has sparked outrage after claiming that women are to blame for rape if they wear mini skirts and revealing clothing.

'If you walk around wearing mini skirts displaying your thighs and inviting men to drool over you, then you want to complain when you have been raped? It's unfortunate because it will be your fault,' she said.

Speaking in Shona, Mrs Mugabe made the comments whilst speaking at a large ZANU conference in Mberengwa on Friday.

Mrs Mugabe made the comments in Zimbabwe's second official language Shona. She was speaking at a large ZANU conference, where the ruling party was trying to gain support in Mberengwa

She went on to make several suggestions for women on how to prevent rape, mainly suggesting that they should wear trousers instead of mini skirts.

'Wear clothes like Mai Mugabe or you can chose trousers, but not those which are too tight. These types of clothes are the signs of moral decadence in our country,' she claimed.

Her comments have been met with outrage on social media, with users questioning Grace Mugabe's controversial views on rape.

'I wonder where she got the empirical evidence to support this claim!!' claimed Arther Chatora on social media.

A second commenter, known only as @LynnBlaze condemned Mrs Mugabe's rape comments, saying: 'Leaders excusing rape is part of the problem.'

The news comes as Zimbabwe's first lady revealed her plans to get a 'special' wheelchair for her 91-year-old husband so that he can continue to rule.
Speaking at a political rally last week, Grace Mugabe told supporters that she would get a wheelchair for her husband, President Robert Mugabe, to use.

In the televised speech, Mugabe, 50, vowed to push the wheelchair herself, taking a swipe at critics who say her husband is too old to govern.

Mugabe told supporters she would ensure her husband, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, remains in power as long as he can still speak.

The Zimbabwean president's critics have questioned his ability to rule after he read the wrong speech in parliament. Several stumbles at public events have made headlines.