Mugabe’s ‘Nigeria witchcraft theory’

Last month, he assumed the chairmanship of the African Union (AU), making him the cynosure of all eyes of the continent to the world. Yet, Mugabe could be as controversial as ever and very witty too. In a televised interview ahead of a huge birthday party in Victoria Falls last Saturday, Mugabe said one of […]

Last month, he assumed the chairmanship of the African Union (AU), making him the cynosure of all eyes of the continent to the world. Yet, Mugabe could be as controversial as ever and very witty too.
In a televised interview ahead of a huge birthday party in Victoria Falls last Saturday, Mugabe said one of his secrets to a long life was not filling his stomach. “I eat well, not filling my stomach, eating foodstuffs that I believe sustain one most. You must eat well, and really not go for food because it’s attractive and feed yourself until your tummy is full.”
His half-sister, Regina Gata, had confirmed her brother’s disciplined habits, saying he neither smokes nor drinks but a recent fall from the steps of a podium after addressing supporters who gathered to welcome him from a trip to Ethiopia at Harare airport raised questions about his health.
Mugabe, according to www.newzimbabwe.com, said he never wanted to be president but ironically has been in power for over three decades and not ready to quit. He has indicated interest to represent Zanu PF at the next general elections scheduled for 2018.
Linked to the power struggle was the removal of the Vice President Joice Majuru on December 8 last year on allegation of trying to overthrow him. Majuru blamed Mugabe’s wife, Grace, for the ouster, saying she is also interested in taking over from her husband.
Also, Mugabe has claimed during his birthday celebration over the weekend that the ex-vice president sought the services of two Nigerian witchdoctors to kill him and other top members of the ZANU-PF party.
He said she performed witchcraft rituals bare-breasted and slaughtered 10 chickens, one for each of the Zanu-PF officials she wanted to kill, topping the list being his wife and himself.
Mugabe said: “Recently she invited two Nigerian witchdoctors. We heard that they were specialists in the field of witchcraft. They were specialists, yes, but specialists in robbing people, foolish people.
But, Majuru later said: “I am at a loss as to how I continue to be the subject matter of presidential conjecture and fantasy. I don’t do such things.”
Last year, relationship between Nigeria and Zimbabwe came to a head when President Mugabe said Nigerians were corrupt. It led to the foreign affairs ministry summoning its envoy in Abuja, Mr.  Stanley Kunjeku, in protest.
Mugabe was reported to have said that Zimbabweans were becoming “like Nigeria” when it came to corruption. The Nigerian authorities described the comment as “vitriolic and denigrating.”
Besides Nigeria, Jamaica also took a swipe from Mugabe when he was quoted by the Zimbabwean Daily News at an exhibition in Harare that Jamaican men were only interested in smoking dope and singing all day.
“In Jamaica, they have freedom to smoke cannabis, the men are always high and universities are full of women,” he said.
 However, Jamaica’s opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, Christopher Tufton, said that if Mugabe had such a low opinion of the Jamaicans, he should be asked to hand back the Order of Jamaica award conferred on him during a state visit in 1996.
He said: “I think that he should be called on to provide an explanation as to what he meant. It’s inappropriate and, frankly speaking, rude. He should apologise to the Jamaican people.”