President Robert Mugabe suffered a major embarrassment last Saturday when he forgot to launch the National Youth Policy after delivering his speech at the Harare International Conference Centre, raising questions about his health and capacity to withstand rigours of a presidential election campaign.
President Mugabe during his 89th birthday hinted memory lapses and frailty were catching up with him is currently in Singapore “receiving specialist eye treatment” although some sources insist he is being treated for prostate cancer which has metastasised.
Mugabe on Tuesday jetted to Singapore, where he normally receives health care, for a “routine eye check”, state media reported. The ageing leader, who is one of Africa’s longest serving presidents, often dismisses rumours about his failing health.
WikiLeaks two years ago published a 2008 US diplomatic cable saying that central bank chief Gideon Gono had told the US ambassador that Mugabe had prostate cancer and had been advised by doctors that he had less than five years to live.
But in public Mugabe has shown little sign of ill health. He is expected to contest elections later this year that will end a shaky power sharing government with his old rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. ZimbabweElection.com
