News / National
'Aging is not sickness' - Tsvangirai reacts to Mugabe's health rumour
13 Apr 2012 at 15:38hrs | Views
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday castigated individuals peddling false reports on President Mugabe's health.
Addressing a gathering at Maglas Stadium during commemorations to mark the World Health Day, PM Tsvangirai said there was "a difference between aging and sickness".
"Ngatiregeyi kuti kana munhu aenda kundorapiwa toti avakufa. Let us respect our elders. Rudo rwevanhu vakuru haruperi," he said.
"Kukura hakusi kurwara. Nezuro chaiye pandakaona President kuCabinet ndakati 'aah, murikufa muchimuka here imi?' Ndikati 'inga mapepa aiti makafa wani?' Zvikanzi zvinoita mapepa hauzvizivi here? (We must desist from claiming that when a person seeks treatment, he is dying.
Aging is not sickness. Yesterday I told the President in Cabinet that 'you are dying and resurrecting' and he said 'don't you know how the media behaves?')
The local private media and international news channels spread rumours that President Mugabe had been flown to Singapore after falling sick and was battling for life in a hospital in the Asian country. President Mugabe returned home on Thursday from the private visit to Singapore and chaired Cabinet on the same day, dispelling rumours that he was unwell.
The Cabinet meeting is traditionally held on Tuesday, but was postponed because the President was away.
Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu told reporters after President Mugabe touched down at the Harare International Airport that he was "as fit as a fiddle".
He blamed the false reportage on his health on cheap propaganda from those used by imperialists.
PM Tsvangirai said President Mugabe told him that he had gone to Singapore for an eye treatment.
The Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity issued a statement when the President left on March 31 that he would use the private visit to Singapore to oversee postgraduate arrangements for his daughter Bona who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in Accountancy degree last year.
Addressing a gathering at Maglas Stadium during commemorations to mark the World Health Day, PM Tsvangirai said there was "a difference between aging and sickness".
"Ngatiregeyi kuti kana munhu aenda kundorapiwa toti avakufa. Let us respect our elders. Rudo rwevanhu vakuru haruperi," he said.
"Kukura hakusi kurwara. Nezuro chaiye pandakaona President kuCabinet ndakati 'aah, murikufa muchimuka here imi?' Ndikati 'inga mapepa aiti makafa wani?' Zvikanzi zvinoita mapepa hauzvizivi here? (We must desist from claiming that when a person seeks treatment, he is dying.
Aging is not sickness. Yesterday I told the President in Cabinet that 'you are dying and resurrecting' and he said 'don't you know how the media behaves?')
The Cabinet meeting is traditionally held on Tuesday, but was postponed because the President was away.
Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu told reporters after President Mugabe touched down at the Harare International Airport that he was "as fit as a fiddle".
He blamed the false reportage on his health on cheap propaganda from those used by imperialists.
PM Tsvangirai said President Mugabe told him that he had gone to Singapore for an eye treatment.
The Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity issued a statement when the President left on March 31 that he would use the private visit to Singapore to oversee postgraduate arrangements for his daughter Bona who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in Accountancy degree last year.
Source - TH
