There are fears inside Zimbabwe 's that president Robert Mugabe wants to turn his dictatorial rule over the country into a monarchy - by getting his daughter to succeed him . He originally planned for his wife to assume the position of president after him but her worsening health has forced Mugabe to turn to his 24-year-old daughter Bona , according to the Times . She accompanied the 91-year-old dictator on a recent trip to Japan to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - a move which drew widespread condemnation from parties within the country . Last year , Mugabe promoted his wife Grace to a senior position within his ruling ZANU-PF party where she led a vicious campaign to remove former vice-president Joice Mujuru from office . Scroll down for video . 'Dynasty ' : There are fears inside Zimbabwe that 91-year-old president Robert Mugabe ( centre ) wants his daughter Bona ( left ) to succeed him . But the 49-year-old has fallen severely ill in recent months and she has been taking regular trips to Singapore for medical treatment . In her absence , their daughter Bona has taken a more prominent role at the Zimbabwean president 's side at official events and trips . Earlier this week , photographs emerged showing her with Mugabe - who is also in poor health - as part of a state delegation that held talks with Japan 's prime minister . The move sparked furious criticism from opposition parties and political analysts but a ZANU-PF spokesman insisted the move was not politically motivated . In an interview with Nehanda Radio , Psychology Mazivisa said : 'Madam Bona Mugabe has not done anything nearly as much . 'We refuse to buy into the narrative that for as long as it 's President Mugabe doing it , no matter how perfectly lawful it is , it 's wrong ... It 's a barbaric way of doing politics . ' But a spokesman for the opposition MDC party said it clearly showed 'that the state has been virtually privatised by the Mugabe dynasty ' . Bona Mugabe-Chikore was born to Robert Mugabe 's first wife Sally and attended the Dominican Convent School in Harare . Succession : Mugabe originally wanted his wife Grace ( centre ) to assume the position of president after him , but her worsening health has forced him to turn to his daughter Bona ( right ) An Irish nun who reportedly taught her there said : ' I never had a moment 's trouble with the girl . ' She enrolled at City University in Hong Kong under an alias and in 2011 , she graduated with an honours degree in accountancy and administration . She gained a master 's degree in banking and finance at the Management Development Institute in Zimbabwe two years later . And just last year , she married an Emirates airline pilot Simba Chikore in a luxurious wedding ceremony in Zimbabwe . Her inclusion in the diplomatic mission to Tokyo also sparked widespread condemnation because many civil servants in the country have worked for months without pay . Mugabe recently said he earned £8,000 a month compared to the average civil servant 's salary of £200 but claimed : ' I am suffering just like you . '
24-year-old MDC was born to president 's first wife Sally . Accompanied him on recent diplomatic trip to meet Japan 's prime minister . The move drew widespread criticism from opposition parties and analysts . Bona Mugabe-Chikore spokesman claimed the 'state has been privatised by Mugabe dynasty . Mugage planned for wife Grace to succeed him but her health is worsening .