Robert Mugabe has returned to Zimbabwe after a week long trip to Singapore, which he travelled to once again for medical reasons.
State television described Mugabe as "fit and strong" and showed him being received at Harare's international airport by senior government and security officials. He had flown on a reportedly 'empty' AirZim Boeing which had been dispatched to fetch him, his wife and his 15 man entourage from South Africa on Sunday.
The 88 year old left last Monday and, unlike his numerous trips to Singapore in recent months, there was little secret about the reason for the journey. An official in his office was quoted as saying that Mugabe was on a private visit for a "routine medical checkup."
When asked by Reuters, "why the president was going abroad if it was a routine issue" the official said: "I am not going to be dragged into that kind of malicious debate."
Debate has been raging about Mugabe's health after diplomatic cables released by the online whistle-blowing group WikiLeaks stated that he had prostate cancer.
ZANU PF has repeatedly denied there is anything wrong with their party leader, despite his advanced age, and have previously insisted his frequent foreign trips have been related to issues with his eyesight.
But it is widely believed that his treatment is for something more serious, especially with ZANU PF on the election war path. Mugabe, at 88, will soon become one of Africa's oldest presidential election candidates in what will, almost certainly, be his last poll.
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Alex_Bell;
"I am not going to be dragged into that kind of malicious debate" (underline "malicious debate").
That was a clever, brilliant, intelligent and befitting answer to evil people who ask stupid and diabolic questions. Why don't you people turn your attention to development issues instead of chasing the wind? How is it your concern that President Mugabe goes to Singapore for “routine medical check-up”?
You have been told over and over (time and time) again that what you wish for SHALL NEVER be fulfilled. But then, because of your persistence, good people around the world wonder whether you take these diseases that afflict people, as a curse. Is somebody suffering from cancer, diabetes, asthma, who has long or short eyesight etc, etc CURSED?
By religiously pursuing this issue, you are implying that you (personally) are going to live forever, that is, combining your remaining life and his life to give you a total that will make you live longer than 88. If that is what you have in mind (whether vividly or mildly) then you are hallucinating.
President Mugabe has his life; you have your own life and the two of you shall never have anything in common in as far as your times here on earth are concerned. President has lived up to this age not at your behest but because God Almighty has a purpose for keeping him alive until this day. Cables or no cables, raging debate or no debate, President Mugabe will live HIS FULL LIFE, whether you like it or not.
I may want to remind you that wishing somebody dead or praying for the death of another person is a SIN BEFORE GOD!! God, in Heaven, is wondering in what way it is your business that President Mugabe has this or that ailment! Mind your own business, will you?
Alex Bell, is this news to you? Please be serious, why are you so concerned about Mugabe's health as if he is the president of your own country? What important thing is it that his life is blocking you from grabbing? Would you wish for the death of the Queen of England as the Head of State because she is now 86 years old?!Alex, use your brain, not your bottom when you write stories.
Would be so much cheaper for Bob to go see a witch doctor in the Mhondoro communal lands . Well according to Bob , he has died more times than Christ.... big whoop di dooo, only reason is because Satan keeps kicking him out of hell for being too evil.
Mugabe goes to singapore for blood transfusions which essentially replace his T cells with new ones cloned and enhanced in the lab to fight his cancer. Only signapore has this facility hence his trips. (not available in Africa and also very expensive)
To solve Mugabe's national monetary drain, Mugabe should find himself a rock in Zimbabwe that oozes "T-cells" - maybe the other side of the one that oozed crude oil.