* Mugabe chairs weekly cabinet meeting
* Defies talk of serious ill health
* Singapore trip had sparked speculation
(Adds Mugabe chairing cabinet)
By Nelson Banya
HARARE, April 12 (Reuters) – President Robert Mugabe
returned home on Thursday, looking fit after a trip to Singapore
that had ignited speculation the veteran Zimbabwean leader was
seriously ill.
The 88-year-old President, who has ruled the southern
African country for more than three decades, landed at Harare’s
main airport in a chartered plane accompanied by his wife Grace.
Information minister Webster Shamu blamed western media for
spreading rumours about Mugabe’s health. Media had speculated
that Mugabe went for vital medical attention in Singapore where
he travelled for check-ups eight times last year.
“As you can see, he is fit as a fiddle. Why do we spread
rumours? It’s all lies told by a press driving an imperialist
agenda,” Shamu told a group of reporters at the airport.
Three hours after his arrival just after 7 a.m. (0500 GMT),
Mugabe was chairing a weekly cabinet meeting that rescheduled
from Tuesday, senior government officials told Reuters.
Continued…
