OLD age and frailty threaten Zanu PF leader President Robert Mugabe’s election campaign amid reports that memory lapses and other health problems have assailed the Head of State lately.
REPORT BY STAFF REPORTERS
Although his party handlers have sought to dispel swirling speculation over Mugabe’s capability to steamroll an effective campaign, indications are that infirmity may indeed affect his usually energetic self.
Due to advanced age, Zanu PF insiders said, Mugabe would only address 10 star rallies before the July 31 elections.
The President’s handlers have also been kept busy trying to cover up for Mugabe’s numerous speech slip-ups and physical flailing.
Party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said on Tuesday: “Why don’t you wait? Isn’t the taste of the pudding in the eating? It’s their own opinion. There is nothing wrong with that, but as a party we believe he (Mugabe) has what it takes to represent us. He will address rallies in all provinces. Of course, it will be hectic because we are only left with three weeks.”
Mugabe is expected to kickstart his campaign rallies at Nzvimbo growth point in Mashonaland Central today.
Mugabe (89), the Zanu PF presidential candidate, recently went to Singapore, his ninth visit in recent months, reportedly for a “routine eye check”.
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The octogenarian is set to square off with MDC-T leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (61), MDC’s Welshman Ncube (52), Zimbabwe Development Party’s Kisinoti Mukwazhe (43) and Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa (73) in the July 31 presidential election.
Mugabe, who is one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents, has oftentimes dismissed speculation over his failing health as unsubstantiated rumour. With hardly three weeks before the presidential poll, indications are that Mugabe may not withstand the gruelling political brawl against his much younger opponents.
At the launch of the Zanu PF election manifesto at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield last Friday, Mugabe mixed up dates and people’s names including the date the National Democratic Party, which preceded Zapu, was formed. He also referred to the late nationalist-cum-medical practitioner Dr Edward Pswarayi as Tsvangirai.
The gaffe was uncharacteristic of the President, who is known to present historical facts with precision. At the same event, Mugabe referred to the Zanu PF Central Committee he had chaired the previous day as a Politburo meeting.
The highlight of the day was when he launched a scathing attack on South African President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team spokesperson Lindiwe Zulu whom he called “stupid” and “idiotic”, among other insults.
The MDC-T South Africa branch yesterday apologised to Zuma, describing Mugabe’s utterances as a sign of old age, saying: “It hardly needs to be said that comments of such a nature are generally associated with beerhalls, taverns and similar other places of recreation where people are unburdened by titles or the offices they occupy and their tongues have been considerably loosened by the continuous intake of mind-altering substances.”
Mugabe last month suffered a major embarrassment when he forgot to launch the National Youth Policy after delivering his speech at the Harare International Conference Centre.
MDC-T national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa said Tsvangirai, Mugabe’s arch-enemy, was expected to address at least 60 star rallies before the elections on July 31.
The Ncube-led MDC spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube said: “We have no helicopter, but we cover an average of 1 500km a day; what more if we had a helicopter. Ncube will address no less than 30 rallies from now to the time of elections. At the age of 52, he is indefatigable. He is full of energy. We know that a toddler has more energy than a teenager and a teenager has more energy than a middle-aged person and a middle-aged person has more energy than a geriatric.”
In contrast, Zanu PF has lined up only 10 star rallies expected to be addressed by Mugabe in all provincial capitals. In 2002, Mugabe addressed 50 star rallies during the run-up to the presidential poll. In the March 2008 elections, he addressed only eight and as of yesterday he had not yet addressed a single rally save for the launch of his party’s manifesto in Highfield last Friday.
Mugabe, who is also reported to fall asleep often during Cabinet meetings, is suspected to suffer from throat and prostate cancer which was feared to have metastasised.
However, in public Mugabe has shown little sign of ill health, and has denied reports that he has prostate cancer maintaining that he was as “fit as a fiddle” and that his only ailment was an eye problem. During a Sadc summit in 2011, Mugabe mistakenly referred to Zuma as Nelson Mandela, and then in an attempt to correct his mistake, he reportedly suggested South Africa’s first black leader was dead, saying :“May his soul rest in peace.”
The former guerilla leader is the world’s second oldest head of state after Israeli president Shimon Peres (90).
The veteran politician reportedly hinted to Zambian Vice-President Guy Scott earlier this year that he intended to step down.
A political analyst who refused to be named said: “Certainly, Mugabe has lost the energy and political craftiness that propelled him to the leadership of Zanu PF in 1977. A combination of old age and poor health has taken its toll on him. Although he still displays some flashes of brilliance and political savviness, he is no longer the Machiavellian tactician he once was.”
