via Breaking News: President speaks on carpet mishap | The Herald February 5, 2015
PRESIDENT Mugabe was his sprightly self when he reported for work at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare this morning to chair a session of Cabinet following his week-long trip to Ethiopia where he assumed the African Union chairmanship.
Despite an incident at Harare International Airport yesterday where he slipped on a hump in the red carpet as he got off the podium after addressing thousands of jubilant party supporters who had gathered to welcome, and congratulate him for his ascension to the AU chair.
Presidential spokesman Mr George Charamba said President Mugabe arrived at his Munhumutapa Offices at 0930 hours to chair Cabinet.
”Today, as he got off his car,” Mr Charamba said, ”I snatched a short conversation with him at the foyer of the Munhumutapa Building:
”’Are you okay, Cde President?”
”’Why?” (light-heartedly).
”’After yesterday’s incident?”’
”’I am okay; it was just a slip”’, Mr Charamba quoted the President as saying.
”Together with Cde Joseph Nyadzayo, his official photographer, and Cde Chikowore, my deputy, and ofcourse his security aides, we accompanied him up a flight of stairs, and then to the Cabinet Room,” Mr Charamba said.
”He walked unaided all the time. In the Room, he greeted and bantered with his Ministers on one side of the Oval table, as he made his way to his seat. Before taking his seat, he greeted his two deputies, and gestured a greeting to the rest of the members of Cabinet sitting on the other side.
”Thereafter we left the President to chair the day’s session, ” Mr Charamba said.
Cabinet usually sits on Tuesdays but today’s session, Mr Charamba said, arose from President Mugabe’s commitments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which kept him away from home.
President Mugabe yesterday tripped over a poorly-laid carpet at Harare International Airport, but remarkably managed to break the fall before walking to his car, evidently unscathed.
He had just addressed thousands of jubilant party supporters who had gathered to welcome him and celebrate his election as African Union chairman.
Speaking off the cuff for slightly over 43 minutes following a four-hour flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he spent a busy week chairing AU plenary meetings in addition to meeting African leaders, President Mugabe turned to leave and was walking down a flight of steps when he tripped over.
Remarkably, the President, broke his fall and landed on his knees.
Aides helped him back to his feet and he was able to walk to his car.
Last night, the President’s fall was attracting excited headlines around the world, with many linking it to old age or poor health. Ironically, just seconds earlier, the President had admonished the media for specialising in non-issues.
COMMENTS
How could he trip over a hump on the carpet walking down the steps? He would step on the hump not trip over it. He was not going down the steps steadily to begin with. It was just a matter of time before he fell.
Also who in their right mind would let a president walk over a red carpet with a hump? What if the hump is a mine? And how come there is not official discussion of who was responsible for the egregious neglect of duty and what is to happen to them.
mudhara arikurwara veduwe, ndakasiririswa nababa ava!!!!zvakaoma
The old dictator fell – full stop. The way he walks as he comes down the steps is irregular – as if there are potholes everywhere. That is why he missed the last step and FELL like a bag of bornes If you watch the footage, the bagger raises his knees a bit like walking toyi toyi to give the impression of youth – a bit like absolom sikhosana – the 70 year old zanu youth chair. Apparently, he has just ‘won’ the au chairmanship!!? Along with the dictator, Africa has fallen.
If you watch the video carefully you can see that Mugabe can no longer carry his weight. He appears to be aching every where.Next time they need to do an OT/ PT assessment because he definitely needs a walking aid.
We respect our elders in our culture. The whole story should not be headline news. I have tripped almost three times a year and I am only 59 years old.Cde Mugabe simply fell and he did not collapse.
Lets focus on other issues.
it might be better to respect those that deserve respect.
Probably its all the excitement of heading the Southern African Dictators Club and now the All Useless Club
Lool poorly laid carpet!
I blame the west and sanctions for this fall,after all our pres is the only man in the world who cango to the far eastn back,zambia n back,ethiopia n back and not even feel a hint of stifness in any body part.so the west did something
@ panda not every problem in africa is the white man’s fault ..YOUR stupid president fell because he is old and can no longer walk properly but can cling to power with a hydraulic grip..maybe its time you bought that moron some two walking sticks to save him the embarrasment
not every problem in africa is the white man’s fault ..YOUR stupid president fell because he is old and can no longer walk properly but can cling to power with a hydraulic grip..maybe its time you bought that moron some two walking sticks to save him the embarrasment