PDP: Singapore omen, Bob’s $5m shame

Returned home Saturday from Japan … President Robert Mugabe

Sign of mounting health problems, warned the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement last week.

Mugabe, now aged 92, holidays in Singapore and regularly travels there for what officials describe as routine health check-ups.

But the PDP said the fact Mugabe went to Singapore after being holed up there during what was supposed to be a trip to India suggests that the aging leader has health issues.

“Mugabe’s Japanese trip has also exposed him as a person who is no longer physically fit to rule after he made another detour to Singapore in order to receive medical treatment,” the party said in its statement.

“His visit to Singapore is the second in two weeks alone after another one during his aborted trip to India.

“His frequent medical checkups are a clear indication that he is not able bodied and therefore not fit to govern and should immediately resign and save the people from the economic collapse.”

Mugabe denies media reports he has long struggled with cancer and, while in Japan, vowed to represent his ruling Zanu PF party at the next elections which are due in 2018.

Meanwhile the PDP attacked as wasteful the Japan visit where Mugabe came away with a $5m grant pledge.

The party said the promised cash was only enough to cover the travel-mad Mugabe’s next foreign trip.

“If that $5 million grant is finally made available by Japan to Zimbabwe it will definitely be misused by Mugabe to go on another worthless overseas trip,” the said PDP.

“Over the past few months, more than $100 million in cash from the state coffers has been used to fund Mugabe’s penchant for foreign travel.”

The money wasted on Mugabe’s foreign travel could be used to help mitigate drought-induced food shortages affecting nearly half the country’s population this year.

“It is very clear that funds for Mugabe’s foreign trips would go a long way in mitigating the current drought that is ravaging the countryside,” the party said.

“(However) Mugabe seems to be living far away from what is taking place in Zimbabwe where a single meal is now a luxury for the majority of the people.

“Mugabe’s trip to Japan again shows that it is time for new leaders in Zimbabwe.”