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| Ill health? Robert Mugabe, 87 has prostate cancer which could kill him within years, according to WikiLeaks cables |
Robert
Mugabe has prostate cancer and has been told by doctors that he could be dead
by 2013, WikiLeaks documents have revealed.
Zimbabwe's
87-year-old president was apparently diagnosed with the condition several years
ago and warned in 2008 that it could kill him within five years.
Details of
his sickness were confirmed in secret U.S. diplomatic cables published by
WikiLeaks.
It provides
the first confirmation that the end of the dictator's rule could be in sight.
He was told
to stand down amid concerns about his failing health, according to the cables.
When his death comes, it is expected to cause a serious internal power struggle.
The
documents show that America's former ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee was
informed of Mugabe's condition on June 4, 2008 during a private meeting with
Gideon Gono, a close friend and governor of Zimbabwe's reserve bank.
In a cabled
summary of the meeting, Mr McGee reported: 'Gideon Gono, governor of the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, told the Ambassador on June 4 that President Robert
Mugabe has prostate cancer that has metastasised and, according to doctors,
will cause his death in three to five years.
More...
'According
to Gono, Mugabe's doctor had recommended he cut back on his activities.
'(NOTE:
Gono told us last year that Mugabe was ill and that his doctor had urged him to
step down immediately. Mugabe had told his doctor, according to Gono, that he
would leave office after the election).'
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| Confidant: Gideon Gono, Mugabe's close friend, apparently told the U.S. diplomat about Mugabe's diagnosis |
Mr McGee's
cable was entitled 'Ambassador's meeting with Gideon Gono' and sent to
Washington from Harare on June 6, a few weeks before 2008's contested Zimbabwe
elections.
In his
note, the ambassador speculated that given Mugabe's rapidly faltering health,
it was likely that even if the aging Zanu-PF leader won the upcoming poll that
he would stand down by the end of the following year.
He wrote:
'Given Mugabe's health, and the desire of many within Zanu-PF that he step down
because of the state of the economy, it is likely the latest date Mugabe will
stay in office, assuming he wins on June 27, is December 2009.
'This is
when Zanu-PF will hold its scheduled Congress to re-elect officers.
'It is also
quite possible that after a June win, Zanu-PF will begin the succession game
resulting in a departure for Mugabe earlier than December 2009.'
The
diplomatic cable was marked 'confidential' but published online last week as
part of Wikileaks's huge dump of unredacted notes.
The
dictator has appeared increasingly frail during recent years and was widely
believed to have been suffering from cancer.
This year
alone he has made at least five trips to Singapore, where he is believed to be
receiving treatment at a top private clinic.
However
those around the leader have maintained a wall of silence over his health, and
his spokesman has repeatedly claimed Mugabe's hospital visits were to receive
treatment for a problem with his eyes.
Today local
media in Zimbabwe reported that Gono had denied telling Mr McGee about Mugabe's
sickness.
In a brief
statement given to the New Zimbabwe website, he said: 'It's a lie. I wouldn't
even dare talk about that.'
Despite his
illness, Mugabe makes significant effort to ensure he continues to be seen as a
powerful figure.
His Zanu-PF
party has ruled Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from Britain in
1980.
Since then
the tyrant has been condemned for a litany of human rights abuses and for
allowing the economy to collapse.
He lost a
2008 presidential poll to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai but claimed to
have won a run-off vote.
The two
leaders later formed a unity government, with Tsvangirai serving as prime
minister since February 2009.
However
Mugabe has repeatedly signaled his intention to call fresh elections, and said
last week that the country would return to the polls
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