Mugabe dismisses ill health reports

HARARE, Monday

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has brushed aside reports that he is ill saying he was in Singapore to rest and see his daughter who is studying in Asia.

The veteran ruler had quietly left the country last week and Information Minister Wesbster Shamu on Saturday said he was in Singapore for a medical review.

But on his return late on Sunday, President Mugabe told journalists from the state media that he was healthy.

“I go away for two days, resting, seeing my daughter and you think I have been nostalgic about having left home,” he said.

He was described as jovial when he arrived at the Harare International Airport.

President Mugabe’s daughter is studying in Hong Kong.

He has gone to Singapore several times to meet her but he also revealed early this year that he has used the trips to get medical attention.

The 87 year old leader had an operation to remove a cataract in one of his eyes in January in the Asian country.

Mr Shamu had told The Standard newspaper that he had gone for a review following the operation.

As speculation on President Mugabe’s health mounts, leaked US embassy cables revealed that in 2008 Mugabe’s confidante and central bank governor, Dr Gideon Gono told American envoys that the president had cancer and would die in three to five years.