Robert Mugabe in Singapore?
HARARE – President Robert Mugabe on Friday quietly left the country destined for Singapore where he was set to receive medical attention for an undisclosed ailment.
Meanwhile, it has emerged the Zimbabwean leader will not be among world leaders set to grace the grand opening on Friday of the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Informed sources revealed Saturday that Zimbabwe’s ailing leader had left Harare on Friday evening en route for Singapore where he was scheduled to receive medical treatment.
A motorist who was forced to make way for Mugabe’s motorcade heading for the airport said the convoy was “unusually large”. Mugabe did not travel with any journalist from the state media he customarily does on his frequent travels abroad.
“He normally seeks treatment in Singapore,” said a source. “That is where he has gone to. He is coming back on Sunday morning.”
Police officers who are usually stationed at road intersections to clear the way for Mugabe’s convoy also revealed they have been placed on stand-by for the whole night between Saturday and Sunday in anticipation of Mugabe’s return.
Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba could not be reached to comment on the President’s absence.
Stories and rumours around Mugabe’s allegedly poor health have been met with intense denial from his spokespersons. They routinely accuse the private media of paying unwarranted attention on Mugabe’s health.
Charamba told the Zimbabwe Times two months ago that only a medical doctor was qualified to comment on 84-year old Mugabe’s supposed illness.
“Who told you that?” Charamba said while he seethed with anger when asked to confirm information that Mugabe had flown to China to seek medical treatment. “Is that person a medical doctor? I believe only a medical doctor can confirm the President’s illness.”
Mugabe, then smarting from his shock defeat by bitter rival, Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC on March 29, had sneaked out of the country on May 21, apparently to seek treatment in China.
In a related development, Mugabe has abandoned plans to attend this week’s opening of the Olympic Games in China.
Writing in his weekly Nathaniel Manheru column in Saturday’s Herald newspaper, Charamba revealed that Mugabe would not attend the opening of the world’s most popular sporting extravaganza.
“President Mugabe attaches great importance to the ongoing talks, which is why he is not going to China for the grand opening of the Olympics,” wrote Charamba referring to the ongoing talks in South Africa between Zanu-PF and MDC.
“Clearly, he is aware that unlike the Unity palaver with PF-Zapu in the 1980s, the current talks involve a political Minotaur shaped and disfigured by a complex web of external interests whose sole goal is to teach revolutionary Southern Africa a sound lesson by defeating Zanu-PF.”
Political analysts have warned that Mugabe risks humiliation if he flies to Beijing, where his most hostile critics will converge.
“The main reason why Mugabe would not attend such an occasion is that his status as President is being questioned not just abroad but in his own country,” said Professor Heneri Dzinotyiwei, a political analyst.
“That is why he is so anxious to see the ongoing talks succeeding as this would settle the outstanding issue of his legitimacy.”
Accusations have been leveled against Mugabe that he won last month’s election at the expense of more than 100 opposition MDC supporters who died at the hands of his militant supporters and members of the armed forces.
The poll was dismissed by the three invited African observer missions, creating a nagging crisis of legitimacy that has dragged a usually defiant Mugabe to negotiate with Tsvangirai after signing a memorandum of agreement with him.
It was inconceivable before the elections that Mugabe would ever shake the hand of Tsvangirai, let alone sit down to dinner with him.
Why are we accepting a dictator, into our country to seek medical treatment? Don’t give me “pragmatism” because, a line has to be drawn, and we’re not drawing it.
Loading ...
You’re forgetting that we treat Burmese Generals and Indonesian dictators as well.