Today: February 22, 2004 at 7:25:24 PST

Report: Mugabe Sidelined With Chest Pains
By MICHAEL HARTNACK
ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -

Chest pains forced President Robert Mugabe, who just turned 80, to cancel a speech at the funeral of a former ruling party legislator, the state broadcaster reported Sunday.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation later said Mugabe attended the funeral of 67-year-old Julia Zvobgo but could not speak because of a "problem with his voice."

The report came a day after Mugabe in an interview marking his 80th birthday revealed a suspected attempt on his life by a presidential cook who allegedly put ground glass in his food.

Police refused to confirm the date of incident or identity of the chef.

Last month Mugabe flew unexpectedly to South Africa, fueling speculation he had fallen ill after an attack of vomiting, but the government spokesman strongly denied he was sick.

Also Sunday, a spokesman for the country's main opposition party said assailants attacked its leader Morgan Tsvangirai while he drove through a ruling party stronghold.

Paul Themba-Nyathi of the Movement for Democratic Change said Tsvangirai was attacked Saturday evening in the Zanu-PF party stronghold of Chivhu, 100 miles south of the capital.

Themba-Nyathi said Tsvangirai, 51, apparently was not seriously hurt and continued on his way to his rural home in Buhera, 50 miles further south. He had no further details.

Tsvangirai could not be reached for comment.

Tsvangirai, a former trade union leader, survived an attempt by supporters of Mugabe to throw him from his 10th floor office in 1998. The opposition leader is currently on bail on two separate charges of treason arising from allegations he plotted to overthrow Mugabe. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Police Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said he was aware of the assault allegations and was investigating.

"What I am failing to understand is that he (Tsvangirai) usually moves with his bodyguards, and we would think they would protect him," Bvudzijena said.

Mugabe has stepped up measures against dissent, arresting opposition and labor leaders and cracking down on the independent press as Zimbabwe faces its worst political and economic crisis since independence in 1980.

Opposition leaders and independent observers say the authoritarian leader used intimidation and vote rigging to win a narrow victory over Tsvangirai in elections two years ago.

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That guy ain't got too long to go on this earth. It's just that with today's modern medicine, his demise will be delayed for quite a bit longer. Bring back Rhodesia.

Does any one but me recall those Rhodesian recruitment posters in the early 80's ? " Be a Man among men !"

There has just been a piece on the TV here in RSA telling us he managed to convince some of the aid agencies and a few remaining farmers (mostly blacks) to store their mealie supplies in the govt silo's. He waited until there was enough there to feed the entire country for close to a year and then sold the lot and exported it out of the country.... now the aid agencies are refusing to supply any more.... but I don't expect that stance to last long.

No wonder they call him Bob the Bastard!

Yup, shows a couple of troopies carrying FN-FAL's.

yup that's the one ! I expect things their are going to get a lot worse before they get better. What a shame that scum buckets like that sill waste good air !

HenryC470,

We saw this article here, and I mentioned that Mugabe should never be allowed to die a natural death.

Walter said "Typical! All you want to see is poor old Robert dead! What has he done to you? Anyway, which gun shall I use to comply with your wishes?"

I said: "Use the 22-243 with 52 grain hollow point bullets, they are good for varmints"

Anyone see today's Sunday issue of "Parade" in the paper? It had our hero as one of the bottom 10 despots/dictators in the world. Maybe the publicity will help here in the good ol' U S of A.