Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Robert Mugabe pictured in Harare earlier this month AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi

Mugabe says he is "fit as a fiddle" and compares himself to Jesus

The Zimbabwean president, speaking on his 88th birthday, also gave tips on how to live a long life.

ROBERT MUGABE HAS denied reports that he has cancer and said that he is “fit as a fiddle”.

Speaking on state radio, the Zimbabwean leader compared himself to Jesus for the amount of comebacks he has made in recent years.

“I have died many times. I have actually beaten Jesus Christ because he only died once,” he told state radio.”At this age, I can still go some distance, can’t I?”.  Mugabe was speaking ahead of his 88th birthday today.

Mugabe put his longevity down to rising at 5am for a daily exercise routine, a balanced diet, and abstaining from alcohol and tobacco.

“There are things one must do for oneself,” he said, the Associated Press reports. “Don’t drink at all, you must exercise and eat vegetables and fruit”.

The BBC reports that one of the Wikileaks cables released last year contained information from Zimbabwe which said that Mugabe had prostate cancer and had several years to live.

SW Radio Africa reports that the president also said he will “definitely” call elections later this year, despite opposition from human rights organisations who say that Zimbabwe is not  yet ready for elections. Mugabe has held power for the past 32 years.

The MDC, the other party in the country’s fragile power-sharing government, have also said that elections can’t happen until promised constitutional reforms are completed.

- Additional reporting by the Associated Press

Zimbabwean diamonds ‘could fund bloodshed’ in future elections >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
15 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Idont Care
    Favourite Idont Care
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 2:17 PM

    Let’s put him to the test and nail him to a cross for a day and lock him in a tomb afterwards. See what he has to say after that.

    96
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute damien chaney
    Favourite damien chaney
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 2:12 PM

    “He’s not the son of god, he’s a very naughty boy!”

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Muck
    Favourite John Muck
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 2:12 PM

    “Mugabe put his longevity down to rising at 5am for a daily exercise routine, a balanced diet, and abstaining from alcohol and tobacco.”

    A great example for us all…..

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Rochford
    Favourite Derek Rochford
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 3:22 PM

    If he is comparing himself to Jesus, well maybe he should try and work a miracle and fix Zimbabwes’ inflation, which is currently running at 100,000% and then I might believe him!

    This man is a Dictator, who in 2009 was ranked the ‘worst dictator in the world’ by Parade Magazine!
    He has also been responsible for 1,000′s of murders in his time and has also been responsible for displacing over 2 millions of his own people and meantime he and his family own 3 of the largest farms in Zimbabwe.
    Also, 8 out of 10 people are unemployed there!

    This man is evil and I for one do not wish him a ‘happy birthday’!

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Strongbow62
    Favourite Strongbow62
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 4:03 PM

    What is Parade magazine?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe McDermott
    Favourite Joe McDermott
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 4:50 PM

    Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70 million

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cillian Lynch
    Favourite Cillian Lynch
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 3:34 PM

    It sickens me to think that he may never be brought to justice

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute howzat
    Favourite howzat
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 2:18 PM

    If ever there was a case of nobrainitis numptie syndrome

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Gaffney
    Favourite James Gaffney
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 5:09 PM

    “There are things one must do for oneself,” he said, the Associated Press reports. “Don’t drink at all, you must exercise and eat vegetables and fruit. Don’t oppose the ZANU-PF too”.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 4:31 PM

    Who’d win in a fight between Mugabe and Kim Jong il…

    Oh yeah, that’s right ;-(

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B7584
    Favourite B7584
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 2:32 PM

    Good man Bobby.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Toureag
    Favourite Toureag
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 3:15 PM

    How come Mugabe manages to control the country at a very old age? Wish Jesus tells him to go to nursing home now!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Murphy
    Favourite Ryan Murphy
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 8:19 PM

    So much for only the good die young, eh?

    The man looks invincible.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Long
    Favourite Adam Long
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 8:35 PM

    Mugabe is loathsome. Human Right activist Peter Tatchell was on Radio Radio 1 this afternoon talking about his work and he described how he tried to arrest Mugabe for crimes against humanity on two occasions and was beaten unconscious by Mugabe’s thugs. That was before European leaders saw sense and banned him from entering their countries.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian McAlone
    Favourite Cian McAlone
    Report
    Feb 21st 2012, 5:51 PM

    Haha Title of the Week!!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds