Zanu PF has dismissed as nonsensical reports that President Robert Mugabe is sick.
Ruling party spokesman, Simon Khaya Moyo, told VOA Studio 7 it is unfortunate that some people are making such remarks about the president who is on holiday in the Far East.
His remarks come at a time when presidential spokesman George Charamba dismissed the reports as “a grim lie” and being peddled by some bogus publication.
Charamba told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that “you cannot doubt that there will be a story on the president’s alleged death every January.”
Shadowy online publication, Zim Eye, has been releasing such reports annually, which have been dismissed by the government as wayward.
Moyo said Mr. Mugabe is alive and well in the Far East. “Presidential spokesman comrade (George) Charamba answered very well, adequately, it’s not a new story we have always heard of this every time the president takes some holiday … And those that were spreading (the) rumour (of the president’s health problems) must be very much ashamed of themselves.”
Pressed to explain why Zimbabweans spread such rumours, Moyo said, “I can’t think for other people. I don’t know how what they think. All I can say is that facts are as given today in the response by the presidential spokesman.”
Pressed to reveal the president’s current holiday spot, the Zanu PF spokesperson said, “Why should they (Zimbabweans) be interested (about) which country (the president is currently having his holiday)? They can find out from the presidential spokesman.”
He further said the president is entitled to have a holiday in a country or place of his choice.
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Interview With Simon Khaya Moyo on Mugabe Health
Political analyst, Shadreck Guto of the University of South Africa, said it is not surprising that Zimbabaweans are talking about the president’s health.
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Interview With Shadreck Guto on Mugabe Health