Zimbabwe dismisses 'malicious' Mugabe deathbed reports

Harare, Apr 11 (ANI): The Zimbabwe government has dismissed reports suggesting that President Robert Mugabe is fighting for his life in a Singapore hospital with an undisclosed illness, calling them 'malicious' hogwash.

Speculation about Mugabe's condition spread like wildfire after his absence forced the postponement of a cabinet meeting.

But Sydney Sekeramayi, the State Security Minister, told the NewsDay newspaper that 'it's just the wish of our detractors.'

"The president is alive and well," Sekeramayi added.

According to The Guardian, other media reports quoted Webster Shamu, Zimbabwe's information minister, as saying, 'it's a lot of hogwash.'

Two senior officials from the ruling Zanu-PF party also denied the report, saying Mugabe was on an Easter break with his family.

"The president is well and away on a private holiday to help his daughter prepare for postgraduate studies, but we are expecting him home this week," the paper quoted an official, as saying.

"But some sick and malicious people are spreading false stories about him being seriously ill while others are saying he is dead or dying out there," the official added. (ANI)