Mugabe tightens his security following demonstrations against autocratic regimes

The Standard reports that President Mugabe has tightened security around himself and his family in recent months following massive demonstrations against autocratic regimes in several African countries in the past months, authoritative sources said.

The sources said Mugabe has beefed up security details – that include police, CIO officers and soldiers – making his already huge entourage bloated, especially when travelling out of town.

The sources said the enhanced security was also necessitated by the fact that Mugabe no longer trusts his cronies following revelations by whistle-blower website, WikiLeaks, that most of them wanted him to go.

Mugabe's reinforced security was evident last week in Mazowe, about 40km outside Harare, where he officiated at the ground- breaking ceremony for the multi-million dollar Grace Mugabe Foundation Primary School.

Meanwhile, Standard also reports that President Mugabe is fast losing control of Zanu PF, as poor health and old age catches up with the veteran politician.

Party officials and MDC-T officials said there was abundant evidence to show that the 87-year-old had lost his once octopus-like grip on the party.

They said his failure to deal with political violence and rampant corruption were clear signs that Mugabe was more of a figurehead in the presidium than anything else.

They noted Mugabe's failure to deal with officials named by whistleblower website, WikiLeaks as having collaborated with the US officials behind his back as another sign of weakness.

The observers said cliques of powerful and rich individuals in the army, police and central intelligence organisation have virtually taken over Mugabe's roles both in the party and at national level.