Zimbabwe's Mugabe dismisses ill-health reports
Mugabe, 86, appears fit and lively - and says God is helping Zimbabwe with mineral discoveries
Jesus died once, and resurrected only once, and poor Mugabe several times
Read on...
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has laughed off suggestions that he is dying of cancer and had recently suffered a stroke.
In an interview at his official Zimbabwe House offices, Mugabe, 86, said he was surprised by speculation over his health, saying this had become a perennial issue and he hardly paid any serious attention to it.
"I don't know how many times I die but nobody has ever talked about my resurrection," he said at the end of an hour-long interview.
"I suppose they don't want to, because it would mean they would mention my resurrection several times and that would be quite divine, an achievement for an individual who is not divine.
"Jesus died once, and resurrected only once, and poor Mugabe several times," he said, clapping his hands loudly, laughing and rocking in his chair.
He did not say whether he planned to stand in the next presidential ballot after his disputed re-election in 2008.
Without getting into details on whether he had any serious health problems, Mugabe -- who appeared fit and lively for his age -- said only God could decide issues of life and death.
Although there have been reports over the last 10 years on Mugabe's health, the veteran Zimbabwean leader has no publicly known serious ailment.
DIVINE HELP
"My time will come, but for now, 'no'. I am still fit enough to fight the sanctions and knock out (my opponents)," he said in reference to sanctions imposed on his ZANU-PF party while former U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were in office.
"It is Bush who is out, Blair out, and the others are persons of no consequence any more. They are inheritors of a situation," he said in an interview in which he called for improved relations between Zimbabwe and Western powers.
"These (Bush and Blair) were the major arch enemies, they are the ones who brought this on us."
Mugabe said Zimbabwe would continue to do its best even with sanctions in place.
"God is there. He showers his blessings on us. We continue to discover a number of resources, platinum, diamonds and gold and uranium.
"Those are recent ones, perhaps others will be coming, we don't know. So God is not there for one nation, just for the Europeans, God is there for everybody, so God is great," Mugabe said.
Mugabe has been in power for Zimbabwe's 30 years of independence from Britain since 1980.
Although Mugabe was forced into a power-sharing government with his arch-rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last year after a disputed re-election in 2008, he has said he may run for office again at the next election.
No date has been set for the poll, but many expect the unity government to last to 2012, by which time Mugabe will be 88.
KasiKid
This old man must be going to a serious sangoma, how come he never gets sick at his age?Many people want him to be removed from his chair but he holds on strong to his position by hook or crook....
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sthenjwa4582
Live on President of Africa.LOng Live President Robert Mugabe Long live.
Decolonise our continent our future African President.
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ZIMBIRI
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CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT WHERE WE CAN LEAVE OUR FAN MAIL TO YOU,
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THAT GUY "PIPYAKOR CAN BE YOUR ASSISTANCE” or maybe not.
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WE LOVE YOU
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Phura
Love or hate him, this man is in a league of his own. I quote: "Bush and Blair are gay, and I do not speak to gays". "Who is Desmond Tutu, he's just a scared little bishop." "Our people do not need your handouts, we have our potatoes." Hahaha!!!Report Abuse
setlaboshego
let us help them as they are in need rihgt now. remember mugabe is not suffering but da people odinary people out tyhere. guys let us pump them with tahat money cz our leaders are miusing it also. so musholozi supply them with dat money. tomorw when iread np i should read given ok zuma?Report Abuse
Sageville
Bob is an excellent warning for South Africa.Also the only 86 year old still with jet black hair.
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