Zimbabwe’s Mugabe Arrives Home From Singapore

Posted April 12th, 2012 at 3:50 am (UTC-5)
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Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe arrived home from Asia on Thursday morning, apparently dispelling rumors he is seriously ill.

The 88-year-old leader was met at Harare's airport by cabinet officials, but he did not speak to a throng of reporters gathered there.

He was expected back two days ago from his trip to Singapore, fueling speculation he was in poor health.

Suspicions about his medical condition resurfaced on Monday after The Zimbabwe Mail newspaper reported that Mr. Mugabe was very ill and had undergone “intensive” medical treatment in Singapore.

Officials from Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party say the Zimbabwean leader was on a 10-day “private visit” to Singapore to help his daughter prepare for his post-graduate studies.

President Mugabe is rumored to have prostate cancer and has made several trips to Singapore in the past 18 months. His spokesman has repeatedly denied Mr. Mugabe is sick.

Some ministers complained the president's absences are crippling the coalition government.

Mr. Mugabe and his party are in an uneasy power-sharing government with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change.