APPROACHING his 87th birthday next February, President Robert Mugabe appears to give his friends a few birthday gift ideas as he walks unsteadily down the steps prompting aides to offer some support.
These pictures were taken as Mugabe left the closing ceremony of the African Union’s Summit in Kampala, Uganda, on July 27.
Mugabe, who still looks fit for his age, has never been seen in public with a walking stick and until recently, was bouncing up and down the steps of Air Zimbabwe planes – an image his PR people were happy to put out as it showed their man to be robust and raring.
But these pictures from Uganda show a man struggling to hold onto his youthful stoicism that has helped him stay in power for an incredible 30 years – for his minders and his Zanu PF party an unwelcome reminder that aging is mandatory, and he too is vulnerable to the pulling power of the end of time.
Surprisingly, Mugabe’s cabinet colleagues speak of a man whose attentiveness at meetings belies his advanced age.
A senior minister from Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party revealed recently: “Cabinet meetings start around 9AM and Mugabe can go all the way up to 1 or 2PM without taking a break, all the time listening intensely to the proceedings, but rarely talking himself.
“There is no question he’s doing better than many at his age.”
The teetotaller President is known to exercise regularly and is a big fan of yoga – a combination that has helped him stay fit and outfox his opponents despite growing public disaffection.
Check your balance ... Mugabe walks unsteadily on steps as aides rush to support
Pulling ahead ... President Mugabe appears to joke with aides as he recovers his poise