Mugabe Fails To Attend Independence Celebrations, Govt Says He Needs His Rest

Former president Robert Mugabe is reported to have refused his successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s invitation to attend the 38th Independence Celebrations at the National Sports Stadium. However, George Charamba presidential spokesperson for both Mnangagwa and Mugabe downplayed the issue saying,

I think people are expecting too much. It is not possible for the former President to be expected to take an active role in national issues a few months after the changes (of government). He needs to rest and he is 94. Another thing is he flew back into the country a few days ago from Singapore.

On March 19th the former President advised the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda in a handwritten note that he was due for medical check-ups. He said ‘We will be in Singapore where we shall remain until 15 April…So you can see he is aware of everything and not locked out.

Before his dramatic fall in November following a military intervention led by current Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Mugabe was supposed to be the presidential candidate for the ruling Zanu-PF in the 2018 elections.

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