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Robert Mugabe has not appeared in public since his once invincible regime collapsed last November while Zimbabweans looked with astonishment – and often delighted – at the fall of the only ruler that the country had never known.
did he arrive at the frail 94-year-old who dominated the daily life of the country for almost four decades?
After the military took power briefly, Mugabe's release became inevitable – but the veteran autocrat was not the only one to be in power. broke into a last defiant performance.
He appeared on television on the evening of Sunday, November 19, as the world prepared to wait for his resignation.
Mugabe He seemed imperturbable, slowly reading his speech as he pledged to remain in power – while the uniformed military generals who had seized power stood by his side.
He acknowledged the "concerns" of the army but claimed that alleviated his authority.
He resigned two days later, by letter.
On December 15, Mugabe was spotted for the first time since his fall when AFP photographed him in a Singapore Hospital during one of his regular medical visits
. In advanced age, Mugabe left the Gleneagles Hospital surrounded by an entourage and entered a car.
A government spokesman said the trip was part of the retreat package covering the former presidents' overseas trips. Singapore in June for new medical care, according to Zimbabwean media, with prostate cancer, high blood pressure and ocular cataract among its reported health problems.
Mugabe and his wife Grace would spend their days away from "Blue Roof", the luxurious private residence that he had built in the posh suburb of Borrowdale in Harare.
He celebrated his 94th birthday on February 21 – a date that was marked when he was in power with great ceremonies for thousands of guests and praise from loyal fanatics.
This year it was a private affair
Photographs of Mugabe wearing a bow tie and Grace in a red dress appeared thereafter
Military and police vehicles are sometimes seen on the front the doors of the "blue roof".
Mugabe has only spoken once since his humiliating downfall.
He described his ouster as a "coup d'etat" and rejected the claim of the generals that they had intervened only to target enemies. "We must get rid of this disgrace that we have imposed … Zimbabwe does not deserve it," he said in press interviews on March 15, adding that he did not want to return in power
. ] Dressed in a light blue suit and appeared mentally sharp but desperate, he expressed the shock that his long-time ally Emmerson Mnangagwa has succeeded him.
"I would never have thought … he would be the man who turned against me" He added that he thought Zimbabwe was now "over arms".
Grace was on hand to greet reporters at "Blue Roof", distributing homemade pizzas to guests.
His own presidential ambitions were widely perceived as military to intervene and set up Mnangagwa.
"All that is garbage," said Mugabe, insisting it was never his plan for her to succeed.
Mugabe appeared in a carefully staged photograph in March, next to Ambrose Mutinhiri, a close ally who left the ruling party of Zanu-PF
Mutinhiri, who opposed the dismissal of Mugabe. The National Patriotic Front Party (NPF) is running for office.
The photograph suggests that the party could be a plan to retain Mugabe's influence.
But this had little impact during the election campaign. Mugabe is now far from politics
A member of his office declined to comment to AFP when he would vote on Monday.
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