Report: Mugabe Sidelined With Chest Pains

[Khephra]

February 22, 2004, 1:07 PM EST


HARARE, Zimbabwe -- 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.

more...............

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-zimbabwe-opposition-leader,0,7410625.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[saltpoint]

1. Chest pains? I thought at first it might be --

-- his heart, but then Robert Mugabe doesn't have a heart, so we can rule that out.

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. Sweet!

Die, you scumbag! Take your buddy Robertson with you!

[Muddleoftheroad]

5. I find it hard to disagree with your post

So I won't.

[JoFerret]

3. A change of heart would be better news

...what a tragedy this man has foisted on his country and its people. Years of imperialism and then ....Mugabe. Hopes denied, hopes destroyed. To have proved Ian Smith right - that will be his perverse legacy.

[Robb]

4. I've heard worse news.

Anyone know who would step into power if Mugabe dies?

[JoFerret]

6. Mugabe the brute

For anyone in any doubt - here is a profile:
http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/story.jsp?story=493848

[Virginian]

10. No bout adoubt it

Mugabe has been horrible to both races. Only his small circle has benefited from his presidency.
Zimbabwe needs to return to the breadbasket of Africa and have an orderly and more civil transfer of the farms and businesses.

[Chicago Democrat]

7. Sounds extremely painful.

:)

[beanball]

8. The Denigration

of President Mugabe,here we go again with an attempt by the Europeans and American press to denigrate black rulers in Africa,after years of inhumane rule by the white oppressors you vilify blacks when they take over their own countries and subject the remaining whites to the same standards they imposed on the blacks,that is pure racism and you know it.

[Aussie_Hillbilly]

9. LOL

LOL! Good call ;)

[newyawker99]

16. Hi Aussie_Hillbilly!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Vogon_Glory]

11. Tell That To The Nyassa

While those whites willing to stay in a post-colonial Zimbabwe have suffered hardships, they have certainly not suffered as much as the folk living in the former Nyassaland part of that country. The Nyassa have suffered far more dead and wounded from armed persecution at the hands of Mugabe's armed goons than they did under colonialists like the Brits and wanna-be Bothas like Smith, and have been the targets for starvation in Zimbabwe's self-inflicted famine.

I fail to see why progressives should emulate those conservatives of yesterday who excused Hitler and Mussolini because of their skin color by excusing the likes of Mugabe or Pol Pot today because of their skin color or ethnic background.

[Spentastic]

12. What a bollocks argument

Whilst Mugabe may not be the pantomime villain portrayed by some here, there is no doubt that if he is the best that a black African leader can be then the continent is in for a shitty time.

Mugabe is a British educated thug. He's just continuing to exploit everybody in the same way the white guys did. It's not about race anymore. It's about power.

[JoFerret]

13. Not at all

There is no denying the long shadow of imperialist devastation in Africa. However, you do countries like Zimbabwe no favors when you are an apologist for a brute like Mugabe. That is simple-minded nonsense.

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

14. what unadulterated nonsense

It's not the Europeans who are suffering under Mugabe's brutal dictatorship. Ian Smith still lives unmolested in the middle of Harare. The only real credible threat to Mugabe comes from disaffected Africans, which is why he has set out to rape, torture and murder those Africans who call his leadership into question.

[mobuto]

15. ???

No, the only double-standard is yours. White rule in Zimbabwe was indeed oppressive. But that doesn't give Robert Mugabe a pass for what he's done - with his simple-minded lust for political power, he's destroyed democracy, ruined the economy, and subjected his people to famine.

an attempt by the Europeans and American press to denigrate black rulers in Africa

I assume that the majority of Zimbabwe's population that opposes Robert Mugabe is being foolishly misled by the oh-so-racist European and American press?

[DavidMS]

17. That doesn't make a popluation happy...

So Mugabe kicks the decendants of colonists out... He also gets rid of much of the technicaly skilled population.

He had an excelent oppertunity to turn Zimbabwe around and raise the living standard for all. Instead it became a kleptocracy.

I would only say he is a little better than the forign rulers he replaced insofar as he is a home grown despot.