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President Mugabe

Farirai Machivenyika Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday said his recent fall at the Harare International Airport was not surprising since falling occurs on several occasions and challenged anyone who has not fallen in their lives.

Speaking on the fall which happened when he was returning from the African Union summit held in Ethiopia early this month, President Mugabe said it was nothing unusual and people should not read much into it.

President Mugabe said this in an interview with ZBC’s “Reflections at 91” that will be broadcast on ZTV1 today.

“It was just a slight fall, just missing the step,” he said. “I have fallen many times in the house, you have a carpet that is misplaced or you hit against something, the corner of a table and you tumble. Haven’t you fallen down yourself?

“I would like to see a person who has not fallen down because they don’t live in this world. So, I don’t see the reason why anyone should be surprised that the President has fallen.

“Anyway, it wasn’t a dangerous fall, but just a slight fall, just missing a step.”

President Mugabe tripped over a poorly laid-out carpet, but remarkably managed to break the fall before walking to his car, evidently unscathed.

The African Union chairman had just addressed thousands of jubilant party supporters who gathered to welcome him and celebrate his election as AU chairman.

After speaking off the cuff for slightly over 43 minutes following a four-hour flight from Addis Ababa where he spent a busy week chairing AU plenary meetings in addition to meeting African leaders, President Mugabe turned to leave the podium and was walking down a flight of steps when he tripped over.

Remarkably, the President broke the fall and landed on his knees and aides helped him to his feet before he walked to his car.

The incident attracted excited headlines around the world, with many linking it to his age and alleged poor health.

Ironically, just seconds earlier, the President had admonished the media for making issues out of non-issues.