Charamba's wife said 'critical' in hospital

Charamba's wife said 'critical' in hospital

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By Staff Reporter

RUDO Charamba, the wife of President Robert Mugabe’s chief spokesman was fighting for her life in a Harare hospital at the weekend.

She was admitted at Harare's West End Clinic on Tuesday last week, just two months after New Zimbabwe.com revealed she had tackled Mugabe's wordsmith for allegedly infecting her with HIV.

Rudo was brutally attacked by Charamba when she confronted the top civil servant after discovering she had the incurable virus that causes Aids.

Her blood-stained dress from the beating is being kept by friends in the hope that Charamba will be brought to court to face assault charges.

Charamba's prosecution was put on ice after President Robert Mugabe allegedly stepped in to halt his prosecution despite pressure from women's groups and Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, who is said to have favoured a trial.

Friends on Sunday described Rudo's condition as "critical".

"Rudo is in High Dependency Unit at West End Clinic, she can’t talk and even if you shout in her ear, she can’t answer and she is not moving an inch, “ said one of her friends who visited her at the hospital.

Charamba, who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, is believed to be a holder of a black belt in marshal arts, and according to the laws of the sport in Zimbabwe he is not supposed to use the skills for any other purposes other than self-defence.

But Mugabe’s spokesman seems to have taken a step further and used them to bash his wife on several occasions, say friends.

Charamba clashed with his wife in February 2004 just after returning from a trip to Cuba. Rudo is said to have accused him of "bringing the disease to our marriage".

A furious Charamba lashed out and left his wife for dead. He was arrested for the assault but months later, the case was mysteriously withdrawn.

Charamba's lawyer, Johannes Tomana, said Rudo withdrew the charges.

But government sources insisted that she withdrew the case under immense pressure from officialdom after President Mugabe stepped in.

Rudo was advised to "avoid a messy public affair in the courts which could see Charamba go to jail, lose his job and tarnish the image of the President and his Office", according to source.
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