HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe denied speculation his health is failing and hinted at taking action against Swiss firms in retaliation for his wife and aides being denied visas to visit Geneva, the official Herald newspaper reported yesterday.
Privately-owned media reported last week that Mugabe had travelled to Singapore for a medical check-up, saying it was his eighth such visit this year.
However, speaking after a private visit to an unspecified Asian country, the 87-year-old leader denied age was catching up with him. “You want to ask me about my health? As you can see, this Mugabe is fit,” he told the Herald.
According to a US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks, Mugabe has prostate cancer that has spread to other organs and was urged by his doctor to step down in 2008.
In the June 2008 cable written by James D McGee, the former US ambassador in Harare, central bank governor Gideon Gono was cited as saying the cancer could lead to Mugabe’s death in three to five years.
Although officials deny he has any serious ailments, analysts say Mugabe’s health has probably forced his ZANU-PF party to press for elections early next year — they are due in 2013 — but so far it has not loosened his grip on power.
However, Mugabe has slowed down, diplomats have said. His meetings are fewer, while his reported visits to Singapore for medical checks have increased.
Mugabe left Zimbabwe last week after he cancelled a trip to Geneva for a United Nations summit when his wife Grace, Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, chief spokesman George Charamba and three other senior officials were refused visas.
