Zille angered by Mugabe cheers

South Africa’s Western Cape premier, Helen Zille, has expressed outrage at the standing ovation granted to President Robert Mugabe.

Africa’s oldest and one of the longest serving leaders received the loudest cheer at the south lawn of the Union Buildings in Pretoria at the presidential inauguration of Jacob Zuma on Saturday.

It was Zuma’s second inauguration after his re-election, the first being in 2009.

Mugabe, looking resplendent in a dark suit and blue tie, arrived in Mercedez Benz, and then slowly made his way down the red carpet with his wife, hand-in-hand.

He smiled and waved his clenched fist salute as loud cheers reverberated through the amphitheatre.

Zuma later took the oath of office before signing the swearing-in certificate and later addressed the nation.

Zille, who was officially sworn in to her second term as Western Cape premier on Monday morning, blasted South Africans for sending the wrong message after the 90-year-old Zimbabwean leader was applauded by the vociferous crowd.

In a twitter rant, Zille said: “A huge cheer goes up for Robert Mugabe, commander-in-chief blah, blah, too depressing. What message does that send out?”

Mugabe, who was in Singapore for a “another routine eye check-up” according to his spokesperson, headed to Zuma’s inauguration soon after his arrival in Harare on Friday.

He had a cataract operation in Singapore on the eve of his 90th birthday in February and returned to the southeastern Asian State two weeks ago amid mounting doubts about his health.

On Tuesday, Britain’s Channel 4 News flighted footage of Mugabe entering Singapore’s Gleneagles Hospital with his wife Grace and security aides.

His wife unsuccessfully attempted to bar the filing of the arrival.

Meanwhile, Mugabe is back home from Zuma’s inauguration and wished him a successful and stable five-year reign.

Other dignitaries to receive a standing ovation were former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda and Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan. Daily News