News / National
Mugabe death rumour ends
21 Jan 2014 at 06:24hrs | Views
President Mugabe appeared in public for the first time in several weeks yesterday to mourn the death of his sister, ending speculation that he may be bedridden, in declining health or even dead.
Mugabe's health, who at 89 has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1980, has spawned endless speculation among Zimbabweans.
Zanu-PF is struggling to keep a lid on a battle over succession and there are fears it could implode in a bloody factional fight that might even suck in the army if Mugabe dies without resolving the issue.
Rumours sparked by his recent absence from the spotlight have been swirling around Harare in the last two weeks, some suggesting that the veteran leader was seriously ill and other even suggesting he had died.
As with previous rounds of speculation, his lieutenants dismissed the rumours as baseless.
Mugabe's health, who at 89 has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1980, has spawned endless speculation among Zimbabweans.
Rumours sparked by his recent absence from the spotlight have been swirling around Harare in the last two weeks, some suggesting that the veteran leader was seriously ill and other even suggesting he had died.
As with previous rounds of speculation, his lieutenants dismissed the rumours as baseless.
Source - dailynews
