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Journalists throng Harare Airport for Mugabe arrival

by Alois Sibanda
11 Apr 2012 at 13:54hrs | Views
Anxiety has gripped many Zimbabweans on the much expected arrival of President Robert Mugabe from Singapore.

Mugabe, who has been away for close to 10 days is rumored to be battling for life in Singapore but Zanu-PF officials dispute that.

A contingent of local and foreign media is said to have camped at Harare International Airport waiting to capture his arrival.

Social networks have gone viral on Mugabe's health. Some people were constantly tuning to ZBC hourly news bulletins for latest updates.

Chief Secretary to the Cabinet Misheck Sibanda early his week hinted that Mugabe could be returning home today.

That was after he issued a statement advising all cabinet ministers that Tuesday cabinet meeting had been  moved to Thursday.

Mugabe chairs all sessions and in his absence they are postponed.

"The press started arriving at the airport by mid morning. Indications were that Mugabe would arrive my midday but two hours later no sign of him," tweeted one journalist.

Tweets such as "is he back home" to  "Has that important plane from Singapore landed" were common.

On Wednesday morning Information, Media and Publicity minister Webster Shamu on summoned all editors from private newspapers to raise concern on the flood of Mugabe health stories.

Those who attended claim that Shamu fumed to editors and threatened to take tough action on them.

Tweeted Sharon "too bad hey, but the President's health is a matter of public concern.press freedom is being violated in Zimbabwe."

Source - Byo24News