Zimbabwe on Tuesday dismissed reports that President Robert Mugabe was battling for life in a Singapore hospital as “a lot of hogwash”, after his absence forced cabinet to postpone this week’s meeting.
“It’s a lot of hogwash,” Information Minister Webster Shamu told AFP. “This is not the first time we have heard these rumours. If anything like that had happened, we would have issued a statement.”
He would not disclose the whereabouts of Mugabe, 88, who was reported by state media to have left for Singapore on a private visit more than a week ago to arrange post-graduate studies for his daughter Bona.
Shamu’s statement came on the back of a report in the Zimbabwe Mail news website that Mugabe, in power since 1980, was seriously ill and had agreed to hand over power to defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
A government source who spoke on condition of anonymity said Mugabe was well and denied the report.
“He is on a private visit in Singapore,” the source said.
“He is not in and was not taken to any hospital. He is well and should be back later today or tomorrow which is why cabinet was pushed to Thursday. The story from the Zimbabwe Mail is a complete fabrication.”
Mugabe last seen in public when he handed computers to a government primary school nearly two weeks ago.
But he issued a condolence message following the death of Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika last week and another one congratulating wa Mutharika’s successor Joyce Banda on assuming her new post.
Mugabe’s health has been subject of speculation in recent years.
Last year the whistleblower website WikiLeaks released a cable in which central bank governor told a US ambassador in 2008 that Mugabe was diagnosed with prostate cancer and doctors had given him three years to live.
Source: AFP
Its just a matter of time comrade Mugabe… you will not be alone UKWA is following you soon.
@1, Bad manners! Stop wishing death for others. You want people to be doing the same for you?
Iwe chikala, naiwe ukafwa. “You think you are going to live forever? i hope you drop dead now panyo pake
You are a stupid people were ever you are.
You are worthless piece of crap, if you not insulting the Catholics you wish death on othersÂ
Your HH will die of his aids first
I wish death on you too sir.
Its just a matter of time comrade Mugabe… you will not be alone UKWA is following you soon. You guys can form a devils club
# 2 only hope you gat two lives dear, Â If you talk careless ,you can actually experience it before them you talking about. watch your hands en your brain carefully b4 you do your postings.
I’m waiting for an announcement from TB Joshua. who is NEXT? It’s not for entertainment but to prepare the one who is next.
You who clan is next you saddist
Next, is you #3 Mangula Mputyu. You are the next go..!! Makaaka iwe!
@1, Bad manners! Stop wishing death for others. You want people to be doing the same for you?
Why doesn’t T B predict the terrorist acts in Nigeria?
Wa fake TB Joshua!
#1 Iwe chikala, naiwe ukafwa. “You think you are going to live forever? i hope you drop dead now panyo pake
Ulefwa Mpangula #3…!!!
why southern Africa? Me thinks too many sins been committed by these homorhodesianusnyasalandus! It is certainly a busy year for the soul harvester. Well let me now dash out for a ‘private visit ‘ to the loo! More popcorn!
Australian Engineer is a very bitter sonofabitch.!!! You have been posting very nasty comments on Sata. Why are you so bitter when you are far away from Zambia? What is your problem? Did you have a difficulty childhood? Are you Sata’s love child and you are so bitter because you have not been included in will??? Be sensible, Sata was not elected by you or your mother, he was elected by Zambians, some even more intelligent than you. FUSEKE iwe galu!!!! Keep your nasty comments in your family!!!
Mwangumfwisha ati chanda Sema!Muli ba ku Kitwe?Kwacha?Bulazi or somehere there-nice one!
Online media reports suggest otherwise. It’s funny how African presidents always hide their ill health until it’s too late. At 88, Bob should have handed over power long time ago and should have been enjoying his retirement as we speak.
Simply desired to emphasize I’m happy I stumbled upon your site!
One thing I want you to know is you can never get away. You can never run away from the prophecy…….no no no!
Mugabe shdnt die until Britain honours its word!!!They mek fake promises n demoniz hm!no wonder they forced hm to hold on to power ds long!!!Any simple quarel wd them da whole world wil hate u includg ur own pipo,cos they fix u so hard!!!!
You can run but you cant hide from the harvester.
Organising “Postgraduate” studies for a Graduate???? This should be a very DULL graduate that can’t organise their own postgrad!!!! Which University has semesters opening this time of the year in Singapore???? Thought usually about Sept.
Heard from the grapevine, new hospital opening in Antarctica – Privacy assured! No Papparazzi poking around for news! All nice & quiet!!
Next is ukwa, same style of hiding from the public . Pretending to go on public holiday in Asia when some one is busy limping antagonising vilonda kumaplolo. Imwe bantu sure? Bingu has stated the journey for the other devils to follow him to hell through purgatory.
You should not wish ill on other people Mwine Lubemba Malisawa, natural law says what goes around comes around, be careful what you think and say.
Uncle Bob if you are on a private visit in Singapore let it be that as a plane full of your favourite British media the BBC News is headed that direction to verify these facts…expect bedside live photos in your pyjamas if you are ill uncle Bob.Â
#15 next will be your father or mother since you are so possessed with the death of our beloved President
wapya mugabe run! death is after you.
I wonder what goes on in some people’s minds, how do you wish somebody dead? God teach will you a lesson ba makaka, you wicked fool
Why do these politicians think they can play politics with illness and matters of death. If it is there we will hear about it sooner rather than later. Ask Kaliati about her egg-on-face experience with the Malawian situation…
God is the only one who holds life n knoz wen one wil die,som of u envy to even b in such posts but alas uv neva bin given dat chance,shame,let God alone judge.
God please save us from wickedness Some comments awe mwandi some people are evil by nature mwe.
You should not wish ill on other people, natural law says what goes around comes around, be careful what you think and say.
Very funny, the entire president of Zimbabwe needs to travel to Singapore to arrange for his grand child’s school? whats wrong with these old African leaders, cant they just give up power to more healthy and energetic people? They are shaming Africa as they die one by one in foriegn Hospitals as a result of not improving there own local hospitals.
All you foolish people defending mugabe, you to will reap the rewards of death and desctruction, a place is reserved for you at the table in hell where uncle bob will be dinning! Foolish people, this is how mugabe was able to use and abuse the office of the president into a personal benefit for himselve alone. If you like starving and eating dust go to zims and stay there, but you wont have to wait long, I wont be suprised if like seseko we find out he kicks the bucket and then all that stealing was so pointless to destroy a contry as if its a persoanl to holder item.
Stupid.
#26 I suppose that you have judged and condenmed others to hell taking the place of the righteous judge. I wonder what is in store for you considering all the hatred you are displaying. Remember we all have to answer for our lives on earth one day, including what you are posting about others. oh do you really think you ‘ll be exempted?
Much az some citizenz should move away from this idling about who iz sick or indeed dying, our governments would do well to just state (that iz if there iz anything the nation should know) categorically the the trips that senior people in society undertake.
While I do not wish anyone dead, the reason for going to Singapore is strange. Does the entire President need to travel to arrange for post graduate studies for his child? How old is this child who cant arrange her own studies? This is a lie!
Can’t wait for this old cruel man to die….
I don’t understand these leaders calling their medical trips a “private visit” – these men have all been elected to national office (…or in the case of Bob, stole the election) meaning their health is most definitely a matter of public interest.Â
How refreshing if Ukwa had just been man enough to say, “Yeah – I’ve a prostate problem, a lot of older people do. It is is important to be aware of this and to take care of your body. We are working hard to build the health services in Zambia and I encourage every man over (x-number of years?) to consult their clinic for advice.”
But instead, we get the usual lies about “private visits” which is very sad I think big missed opportunity for this government to show what it really means by “change”.Â
You can wish anybody dead if you have never experienced death in your family. Dont impress the politicians that will never even rule zambia. All will die especially the proud Australian engineer come to zambia and repair your bridges.
The same story we heard about Sata’s visit to India, the same story about Bingu until he died then they admited, and now same story about Mugabe – maybe until he dies that’s when they will admit. Is it an African thing? BLACK African thing? That is why corruption and cheating is inherent in African politics – you hide things that do not even qualify to be secrets – because you are so used to lying and stealing behind your citizens. Bull-shit. So if he died today, they should be forced to bury him alone and then explain to the citizens what killed a perfectly healthy president who was on a normal private visit to another country! It’s id.i.o.t.i.c politicians everywhere and we are getting sick and tired of them!
You cant die twice. Mugabe is a Zombie
These chaps and their ‘private visits’? First it was Ukwa, now it’s Bob. Anyway, you can’t hide these things for long; how long can the “helping daughter get into college” line continue to hold? One lie will lead to the next until all hell breaks loose and Govt officials will all look foolish; as is the case in Malawi.
God is answering our prayers. Very soon all old despots will be six feet down. To hell with all dictatators who claim to be men of the pipo.
mugabe a big fire is waiting for yo balls !!!
Wish you well.
president going to arrange gradute school for daugther….i thought that was the secretaries job?
@1 Engineer (Australia)?? You have a serious devil thought, why wish others death?? May that car hit you when crossing your Australian Streets? Watch out. You also have a serious inferiority character why the hell tell everyone (Australia) You FOOL. I bet you never thought you would live overseas. Stop wishing and calling our Zambian president stupid names like Ukwa??
what makes you diffrent from the engineer when you have equally wished him death?
Where does Chavez gets his courage from 2 announce 2 da nation en da world at large about his visits to Cuba 4 medical attention almost everytime he fail sick? Why not our African Leaders. FEAR NOT
everyone shall die cruel or not, dictator or not, educated or not, intellect or not,old or not, everyone shall it is just a matter of time
Death is like a coat, that we shall all have to put on one day.
Hope we can all say at our death beds that we did the best to improve the lives of those we left behind, in our extended families especially, if not for the nation.
that need GOD prayers to save them our leaders