News / Local
Ailing Mugabe tours ZITF in a vehicle
28 Apr 2012 at 12:42hrs | Views
Ailing Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe toured the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Friday morning in a vehicle for the first time due to poor health and advanced age.
This is the first time in years for Mugabe (88) who usually tours the ZITF exhibition Centre on foot to use a vehicle.
The geriatric leader only walked few meters from ZITF VIP lounge to nearby Zambia Embassy and Mozambique Railways stands before getting into his official vehicle and finished the last three quarters of his tour in his car.
He toured the Chinese Hall one, Poultry Hall before heading to Hall Four where the South African companies were exhibiting. When inside most ZITF stands, Mugabe was walking with the support of Zambia President Michael Sata, who was holding his hand.
Some journalists who were following the octogenarian leader on ZITF tour could be heard whispering among themselves that "the old man should step down and take a rest".
Mugabe recently went to Singapore for medical treatment, despite his loyal officials continuing to claim he went there to sort out his daughter's post-graduate registration papers.
His prolonged stay in Singapore however fueled speculation that he was battling for his life, after Cabinet meetings had been postponed as a result of his absence.
Leaked US diplomatic cables recently also stated that Mugabe was spotted at Singapore's up market Glen Eagles Hospital in 2008 where an oncologist (cancer specialist) reportedly confirmed that Mugabe was a patient.
Mugabe himself has spiritedly denied that he is dogged by ill health.
Meanwhile all gates to the ZITF were closed during Mugabe and Sata ZITF tour of stands. There was tight security at ZITF grounds like never before, as heavily armed soldiers and police officers were manning all the entrance to the ZITF on Friday morning.
In the past years of the ZITF, staff usually mann the gates. Members of public including children were also being searched, questioned and harassed.
"This is really shocking we have never seen this, we are being searched and harassed for no apparent reasons," said John Ndlovu a Bulawayo resident who had brought his children to ZITF.
South Africa and China have the highest number of exhibitors this year.
This is the first time in years for Mugabe (88) who usually tours the ZITF exhibition Centre on foot to use a vehicle.
The geriatric leader only walked few meters from ZITF VIP lounge to nearby Zambia Embassy and Mozambique Railways stands before getting into his official vehicle and finished the last three quarters of his tour in his car.
He toured the Chinese Hall one, Poultry Hall before heading to Hall Four where the South African companies were exhibiting. When inside most ZITF stands, Mugabe was walking with the support of Zambia President Michael Sata, who was holding his hand.
Some journalists who were following the octogenarian leader on ZITF tour could be heard whispering among themselves that "the old man should step down and take a rest".
Mugabe recently went to Singapore for medical treatment, despite his loyal officials continuing to claim he went there to sort out his daughter's post-graduate registration papers.
Leaked US diplomatic cables recently also stated that Mugabe was spotted at Singapore's up market Glen Eagles Hospital in 2008 where an oncologist (cancer specialist) reportedly confirmed that Mugabe was a patient.
Mugabe himself has spiritedly denied that he is dogged by ill health.
Meanwhile all gates to the ZITF were closed during Mugabe and Sata ZITF tour of stands. There was tight security at ZITF grounds like never before, as heavily armed soldiers and police officers were manning all the entrance to the ZITF on Friday morning.
In the past years of the ZITF, staff usually mann the gates. Members of public including children were also being searched, questioned and harassed.
"This is really shocking we have never seen this, we are being searched and harassed for no apparent reasons," said John Ndlovu a Bulawayo resident who had brought his children to ZITF.
South Africa and China have the highest number of exhibitors this year.
Source - radiovop
