[ad_1]
Harare (AFP) – Robert Mugabe has not appeared in public since his once invincible regime collapsed last November while Zimbabweans watched in amazement – and often delighted – the fall the only ruler that the country had ever known
So what happened to the frail 94-year-old who dominated the daily life of the country for almost four decades?
– Last appearance on television –
After the takeover by the army, Mugabe's exit becomes inevitable – but the veteran autocrat has stuck his heels with one last defiant performance.
He appeared on live television in the evening of Sunday, November 19, with the world watching, waiting for his resignation
He slowly read his speech while he was watching. he pledged to remain in power – while the uniformed military generals who had seized power stood beside him.
He recognized the "concerns" of the army but said that the military intervention did not call into question his authority.
He resigned two days later, by letter
– Snapped in Singapore –
On December 15, Mugabe was spotted for the first time since his fall when AFP took him photographed in a hospital in Singapore. Walking unassisted despite his advanced age, Mugabe came out of a lift at Gleneagles Hospital surrounded by an entourage and entered a car.
A government spokesman said the trip was part of the travel retreat package for former presidents
Mugabe also returned to Singapore in June for other medical care, according to Zimbabwean media , with prostate cancer, high blood pressure and ocular cataract among his reported health problems. –
Mugabe and his Grace wife would spend their days in isolation at "Blue Roof" – the luxury luxury private residence that he had built in the posh suburb of Borrowdale in Harare.
He celebrated his 94th birth February 21, when he was in power with great ceremonies for thousands of guests and praise from loyal fanatics
This year it was a business private tie for a close family only.
Photographs of Mugabe wearing a bow tie and Grace in a red dress appeared later
Military and police vehicles are sometimes seen in front of the "blue roof" doors.
Mugabe has spoken only once since his humiliating downfall.
He described his ouster as a "coup d'etat" and rejected the generals' claim that they intervened solely to target the enemies around him.
This disgrace that we imposed on ourselves … Zimbabwe does not deserve it, "he said in press interviews on March 15, adding that he did not want to return to power.
Dressed in a light blue but desperate costume, he expressed shock that his longtime ally Emmerson Mnanga gwa had succeeded him.
"I would have never thought … he would the man who has turned against me, "he said, adding that he thought Zimbabwe was now" upside down. "The reporters of" Blue Roof ", distributing homemade pizzas to the guests.
His own presidential ambitions were widely perceived as causing the intervention of the army and the installation of Mnangagwa
" All of this is hogwash ", says Mugabe, insisting that never her plan for her to succeed
– Election Games? –
Mugabe appeared in a carefully staged photo in March, next to Ambrose Mutinhiri, a close ally who left the ruling party of ZANU-PF
Mutinhiri, who opposed the expulsion of Mugabe. The Front Party (NPF) will stand for election
The photograph has sparked speculation that the party could be a plan for Mugabe to keep his influence.
But this had little impact during the campaign and Mugabe is now far away
A member of his office declined to comment to AFP when he would vote on Monday.
Source link
