Mugabe in good health – Charamba
INDIA – Pictures and videos of 91-year-old Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe stumbling and struggling to negotiate a few tiny steps on stage in India have raised concern over his health and ability to govern.
Presidential spokesman George Charamba is however singing a different tune, defiantly claiming that Mugabe is well and has successfully completed his mission at the just-ended India-Africa Forum Summit.
Despite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi having to help Mugabe “break a fall” during the summit, Mr Charamba said only faultfinders would spend a second on such an incident.
“It is a very minor incident in a big heroic act and only fault finders will spend a second on it. President Mugabe is well and has accomplished his mission. He is due in the country at the weekend.”
On two occasions on the big stage in India this week, Mugabe had to be assisted by the Indian Prime Minister, as well as his aides after looking somewhat disoriented and nearly tumbling off the ramp at the mega summit.
The increasingly frail 91-year-old — who has lately been walking with the aid of his wife Grace, and who fell at Harare International Airport earlier this year — is using the summit to try and lure Indian investors to Zimbabwe, whose economy is dying due to what critics say are decades of misrule by his party.
In a video, which has gone viral on social media, Mugabe is seen stumbling backwards dangerously as he attempts to climb onto a stage. And sensing his difficulty, two aides quickly move in to assist him.
In another clip, Mugabe looks tired and confused as he shares the stage with Modi, who also moves quickly to assist and direct him to the right place, upon realising that Mugabe may not be fully aware of where he was supposed to go.
