'Grace Mugabe Seriously ill in Singapore' - Rumour

An online publication,  The Telescope News, claims that the First lady, Grace Mugabe, is "seriously ill" and  "secretly receiving medical care in Singapore."

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HARARE - First Lady, Grace Mugabe, is the one who has been flown to Singapore, for urgent medical attention, contrary to reports on Wednesday, that her husband, President Robert Mugabe was the one going for routine cataract check-ups, The Telescope News claims.

Mugabe's spokesman, George Charamba, appears to have sold a dummy to the media, by issuing a "cover-up statement", suggesting that, the ailing Zanu PF leader was the one undergoing a routine cataract check-up.

"His Excellency the President Cde R.G. Mugabe, left Harare this afternoon (Wednesday) for Singapore on a week-long private visit to that country. During his visit President Mugabe will undergo a routine eye check-up following a recent procedure on the same," said Charamba. "The President was seen off at the Harare International Airport by the Honourable Vice President, Cde Joice T. R. Mujuru, Senior Minister in the Office of the President and Cabinet Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, Honourable Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Professor Jonathan Moyo, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck J. M. Sibanda, Service Chiefs, Harare Metropolitan Province Minister Cde Miriam Chikukwa and other senior Government officials. Honourable Vice President Joice Mujuru will act in His Excellency the President's absence."

Interestingly, the government controlled Herald Newspaper, used a file photo for the story, where a "jovial" Mugabe (see picture below), is seen shaking the hands of Vice President Mujuru, who is equally in a cheerful mood. Other smiling faces behind Mugabe, at the Harare International Airport snap, are long-serving ministers, Didymus Mutasa and Sydney Sekeramayi.

The state media, our sources say is attempting to make a "photo blackout" of the first family, as current photographs, could expose the fatality of Mugabe's eye problems through facial expressions, and the type of glasses he wears. On the other hand, Grace Mugabe, herself has only had public pictures taken during the wedding of her daugther Bona, at their Borrowdale mansion in March. Present photos of the first lady, could also expose her continued loss of weight, sources said.

"Pictures say a thousand words. That is why the government controlled media decided not to publish current photos. It is clearly Grace Mugabe who is sick, and not the old man (Mugabe)."

Well placed intelligence officials, travelling with the discreet presidential party, confirmed yesterday that Grace Mugabe is the one, who is suffering from a "chronic ailment", which we are yet to establish.

The Telescope News, was the first online news publication, yesterday to raise alarm on the suspicion, that all is not well, health wise for the first lady.

"It is Amai (Grace), who is seriously ill and she has been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Singapore city for some three or so years now," said one of the intelligence staffer. "Yes, the President always has his own routine eye check-up, but it is not as serious, as what is being potrayed by the media. You people must do your investigations properly, and you will not struggle to break this one. Unfortunately local media players, are unable to send their journalists to Singapore. In Harare, the populace will remain in the dark. The President, is not severe as the first lady. However, we do not know, what she is suffering from?"

In 2011, Mugabe made a similar, sudden disappearence to Singapore on a Friday evening, to seek medical treatment in the Asian country, but it turned out, Grace, was the one being attended to, for a "serious ailment", which remains a mystery.

During the same year, the Mugabe's travelled to Singapore countless times, blowing millions of tax-payer dollars, under the guise of Mugabe's eye operations and cataract problems.

Charamba, as expected told a local weekly newspaper, at the time, that he had not been briefed about the controversial Singapore trip, which raised speculation about the first lady's alleged failing health.

"It could be that they went to visit their daughter (Bona) who is on attachment in China, because they usually meet up in Singapore but then maybe there is something else," Charamba said. "However, it cannot be anything serious. Usually, if I am in Harare, I will go and see him (Mugabe) off at the airport and I would be briefed on the reason on why he is travelling but I am in Kadoma attending a Zimbabwe Media Commission conference."

Mugabe's press secretary, also denied that Grace according to media reports, was suffering from a dislocated hip, after slipping in the bathroom at the first family's Borrowdale residence.

"I have not heard about it. However, what I know is that the First Lady, after the birth of Chatunga, developed some slight discomfort with her back but that was a long time ago," said Charamba.

Grace is expected to receive state of the art, medical treatment, for at least the reported one week, which government says also involves private business for Mugabe, intelligence sources said.