SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
26 August 2009
Un-named government officials have rubbished reports that Robert Mugabe missed the burial of the late nationalist Richard Hove because he was unwell and had flown to Dubai for treatment.
"The president is not sick but was away on holiday. He returned home yesterday (Tuesday), and those reports are a load of rubbish that we get from sick and evil minds," Reuters news agency quoted the official saying.
The presence of Mugabe's urologist in Dubai, Awang Kechik, fuelled suspicion he was there to check up on the ZANU PF leader. Kechik is normally based in Malaysia. A few years ago Mugabe suffered a prostrate cancer scare but it was never known whether the cells turned out to be 'benign' or cancerous.
Mugabe did return home on Tuesday and his party officials began issuing denials that he was not in poor health. "He took his children on a week's holiday before schools open next week. He does this every year. He's back in the country," another official was quoted as saying. Mugabe's health remains a closely guarded secret and it would be unlikely any of his close aides would admit he is receiving treatment or give details of any ill health he might be suffering from. A South African Sunday Times report quoted passengers aboard the scheduled Air Zimbabwe flight on which Mugabe travelled saying he appeared 'gaunt'. Speculation was rife over the weekend that he was unwell.
Journalist Denford Magora suggested in his blog that Mugabe would use the trip, as he normally does, to have his Botox injections. "It is likely that when he does come back, you will see him looking chubbier around the face than he has been the last few weeks. The Zimbabwe dictator has been having these injections since 2002." He said the injections "have a noticeable effect on Mugabe, who looks gaunt and drawn when their effects have worn off and quite healthy and chubby about the face soon after they are administered." Magora claimed the last time Mugabe had these injections was just before the inauguration of Jacob Zuma in May this year.
It is a measure of how reviled Mugabe is in many quarters that any reports of his ill-health are celebrated. After 29 years of iron fisted rule, marked by the Gukurahundi Massacres, Operation Murambatsvina and numerous bouts of election related violence and murder, not many wish him well. Some years ago the former Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, said he would pray for Mugabe's death so that the country could return to peace and prosperity. Mugabe would later respond with a 'honey-trap' that saw the bishop disgraced and removed from his position. While Mugabe's supporters call the speculation on his health 'evil and sick' the victims of his misrule continue to speculate, and hope. As they see little hope for any real change in Zimbabwe while Mugabe holds on to power.
Meanwhile Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are due to meet South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday. Zuma is set to officially open the Harare Agriculture Show. Despite Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba denying that Zuma will tackle outstanding unity government issues, MDC officials insist he will meet all three party principals and seek a resolution of the 'toxic' issues. The Secretary General of the African National Congress Gwede Mantashe has also confirmed that Zuma will be more 'vocal' in dealing with what he sees as 'deviant behaviour' in the power sharing government.
Those hoping Zuma will crack the whip on Mugabe will probably be disappointed by the fact that he will cease to be SADC chair in a few weeks and DRC President Joseph Kabila will be taking over. Kabila has in the past spoken of Mugabe as a 'father figure' and will feel bound by a sense of loyalty, given that Mugabe unilaterally sent in troops and massive military support to help Kabila Snr in a war described as Africa's World War - a conflict that sucked in 7 African nations and resulted in the deaths of over 5 million people.
Zimbabwe's support of this conflict was one of the main reasons for it's own economic collapse, but ZANU PF's ruling elite had been rewarded with rich mineral concessions, that continue to this day.
Earlier this year SW Radio Africa exposed the fact that Vice President Joice Mujuru was using her daughter, based in Spain, to market the gold and diamonds the family was illegally exporting from the DRC. One deal alone was said to be worth US$20-US$40 million for the Mujuru's - each month.
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Thanks all:
Now back to my original question: What will happen if Comrade Bob were to suddenly depart?
Is ZANU-PF prepared to name a successor? Who will it be? How will it affect the unity of ZANU-PF within the current GNU if Mugabe isn't around to hold all the factions together? Especially in light of the recent opinion poll showing ZANU-PF's lowest ever support ratings......... Would ZANU-PF (w/out Mugabe) even be a viable partner in the GNU?
How will MDC-T react? Will they seek themselves to end the GNU to enter election? Can they reach an agreement with the renegade MDC-M MP's and parts of ZAPU to assert control?
How will the AU or SADC or SA react?
Perhaps, more importantly, will the old CIO/JOC put the armed forces on alert and start a coup to protect their positions in Mugabe's absence?
Or will the entire country just devolve into a bloodbath?
Somebody's gotta be think about this contingency!
Again, I just want a discussion here about what "could" happen, not whether one outcome or another is particularly desireable to one party or another. But let's be honest, despite what I may think about him, Mugabe is obviously the glue holding ZANU-PF together. What happens to ZANU-PF, hence the GNU if he were to suddenly depart?
Whatever "side" you may be on - if he goes - it changes the entire equation in Zimbabwe yet no one seems to want to talk about it...............
Hello Juhlman, I think it's good you brought the subject up.So what would or could happen when Mugabe is no longer the (pirate)president of Zimbabwe?I think there is the danger of heavy fighting or even a civil war.People of Zim are fed up with criminal Zanu and criminal Mugabe.They had to control their anger for decades.It will come out some day.Most probably the military will try to rule the country by marshallaw or something like that after Mugabes death but I am not sure they can control their own soldiers.They know perfectly well they had to guard diamondfields for example without getting paid and the diamondmoney goes to the military top.Soldiers are angry to and we saw riots before.I think in the nonZanucamp (90% of the population)there will be the call for justice,revenge even.Zanu will be finished.So after the violence I expect,I hope a respected guy like Biti will become the new leader of Zimbabwe.If Zim would have a normal government investors would come back and as you know the west is not Zims ennemy.The AU,SADC and SA will not do a thing cause these are empty vessels.Best thing to happen would be Mugabe dies (or gets arrested) during the Worldcup of soccer in 2010.That would give Zimbabweans the ideal oppurtunity to clean up the mess Zanu created.And give back millions of Zimbabweans a future.
Its sickening to read some of these wishes about someone's death. Its plain satanic, witchcraft and straight from hell. Don't try to play God. What ever happens in this world God is in control, not your demonic wishes. are you in good health yourself? Zimbabwe is blessed by God and those blessings will not be taken away by your evil wishes. This nation will triumph evil wishes or not, western persecution or not, evil sanctions or not, western puppetry or not. We have prevailed before, we will prevail again, God is on the side of justice, fighting for and protecting what is yours is a just cause!
God help you.
I suppose the questionn that SHOULD be asked is "what happens if Bloodstained Bob actually does die suddenly?"
Does ZANU-PF have a plan "B"? It seems recently, any talk of succession was quashed, but what would happen if the "Glorious Leader" died quietly in his sleep?
Could he possibly be buried in Heroes Acre? Would the people of Zimbabwe even permit it? Would the Armed Forces have to place a 24 hour "honor" guard a the gravesite?
How would the armed forces react?
I mean, the guy IS 85 years old! And he HAS been under a LOT of pressure the last several years - which is obviously NOT good for a man his age......
Moreover, what happens to the GNU if Mugabe is gone? Is there ANYONE in ZANU-PF that could step in and control their own party while still trying to participate in the GNU? Does the military just stage a coup to cover their own behinds and try to rule like the junta in Myanmar?
it IS strange that he did not attend the funeral of a liberation figure......
Question SHOULD be, what happens in Zimbabwe if Bob suddenly leaves us (and I DON'T mean to retire in Malaysia!)?
Juhlman;
You are not only of a sick and evil mind Juhlman, you are a cruel and atanic bustard. How can you, like Pius Ncube, openly pray for the death of my President? Why do you want him dead anyway? What has he personally done to you to warrant such an evil wish from an evil beast like you?
You should remember that, just like your friends Pius Ncube, "Pastor" Chari, Zungairwa, John Santum and Desmond Tutu, you will NEVER succeed. Your prayers are like dust on this earth and will NEVER be answered.
What gives you the right to question whether Zanu-pf has Plan B or not? Be reminded that the revolutionary party has had tragic losses of its great heroes and heroines since 1890 when barbarians (mhuka dzisina mitemo) invaded our country and dispossessed us but we have never been found wanting.
The recent losses were those of VP Msika and now Cde Richard Hove but the revolutionary party is not only standing but is getting stronger and stronger everyday.
We are perfectly aware of where we are coming from, where we presently are and where we are going, hence, we do NOT need your advice at all. Put that in your thick and brainless skull, you evil bustard.
You make me laugh though young boy, questioning whether revolutionary, consistent and persistent President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, who has worked his entire life for the people of Zimbabwe, will be buried at the Heroes' Acre. This is like questioning whether the sun will rise from the east tomorrow. You are retarded. You need to go to Inkutsheni for your regular treatment.
Tokolosh, you should go and throw your bones in the Mhondoro lands. Your so-called prayers are straight from Satan's mouth. Mugabe will die one day, who knows when, only God the father of mankind knows. best sort yourself out before your eternal death in hell. Your choice. It's judgement day.
Tak:
Exactly where in my post did I state anything about whether it was either good or bad that Comrade Bob leave us?
Now, for the record, I have said I think Zimbabwe would actually be better off without him. However he goes, by election defeat, by "regime change", by retirement, or by natural causes - but that does NOT mean I wish him ill even though he might deserve it.
However, my particular post was making the simple point that no one actually does talk about life after Bob. What exactly would happen if he were to leave us sooner rather than later. What would the actual consequences be and how would the different parties react? Would it be the end of the GNU?
But you can point to nothing in my post that said I was praying for the man to die - so don't try and lie and say I do, or did, or will.
Back to the point, he IS 85 years old, he has a history of prostate problems (although common for a man his age) and the rest of his health is considered a state secret. Are there plans, even in ZANU-PF, for what to do if he should depart us?
Which begs another question, if not, what are ZANU-PF, MDC-T, MDC-M and ZAPU, or the SADC or AU going to do?
See all comments (25).
OK!
Can we please get back to the topic I presented? WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE PRO-ZANU-PF OR ANTI-ZANU-PF!
I am not "praying" for anyone's death here, but "If" Comrade Bob were to suddenly leave what would be the consequences? He IS 85 years old, he HAS a history of prostate trouble, the rest of his health info is a State Secret! Mugabe is basically holding ZANU-PF together at the present, is there anyone else in ZANU-PF that could hold all the competing factions together?
How would ZANU-PF react? How would MDC-T react? What would the military do? What are the chances of widespread violence post-Mugabe?
I'm only talking CONTINGENCIES here!
Save the invective for another thread for once!
Is there, or does anyone have any plan for what might happen if Comrade Bob actually did die suddenly?