Zimbabwe President Still Fit, Says First Lady

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe along with First Lady Grace. She made a powerful and defiant speech calling for the continuation of ZANU-PF rule in this southern African nation., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

President still fit, says First Lady

Monday, 11 June 2012 12:00
Herald Reporter

THE First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has said that President Mugabe is “very fit, sound, lucid and energetic”.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Mail last week, Amai Mugabe dismissed claims by Western-sponsored local and foreign media organisations that the Head of State and Government and Com­mander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is unhealthy because of old age.

“They say (President) Mugabe is a very old man and this and that, but he is very sound and lucid,” she said.

“Very, very sound, I am telling you, and very energetic, too.”

The President, added Amai Mugabe, even assists with daily household chores and does not miss the gym.

“He will not miss his morning exercises, seven days a week,” she said.

“At that age he is very lucky. He inherited his mother’s genes. We think when she died she was over 100-years-old and she was very sound.

“She was never sick at all and the President is not sick at all.”

The First Lady dismissed claims that she influenced most of President Mugabe’s politi­cal decisions.

“Nonsense! That’s nonsensical! He is a very intelligent man, please!” she said.

“What you are telling me is that you under­stand my husband. As intelligent as he is . . . you know sometimes when I want to say something to him I am so scared because I know the answers I am going to get.

“When he stands up to speak at any moment, even now, impromptu, if you say, Mr President, make a speech, he will do it amazingly.

“Are you then saying he carries a tape recorder so that he listens to me first before he speaks? No, do not do that to the Presi­dent.”

Amai Mugabe narrated how President Mugabe is not only active in office, but even at home working up as early as 5am depend­ing on the schedule of the day.

“It is my husband who gets up out of bed first,” she said.

“Obviously, because he is the man of the house, he has to open the doors for the work­ers to come in. He does that everyday. I do not have to get up.

“He wakes up at around 5 o’clock and wakes the children up. I always tell him that he is spoiling them, they are grown ups.

“I am telling you, he will go to their rooms, knock on the door, enter, wake them up, run the tap for them.”

Amai Mugabe said she is a strict mother who ensures that her children are aware that they should prepare well for their future.