Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who has been widely rumoured to be ill, smiled andlooked fit today when he addressed a conference in thetourist resort of Victoria Falls, state TV pictures showed.
Yesterday, the government dismissed as "wishful thinking"and "mischievous" South African and British media reports thatMugabe (79) had been secretly flown to South Africa fortreatment after suffering either a stroke or a bad fall.
Rumours about Mugabe's health have cropped up morefrequently as Zimbabwe sinks into a political and economiccrisis blamed in part on his policy of seizing white-owned farmsto give to landless blacks.
Hotel employees and witnesses reached by telephone from thecapital Harare said Mugabe appeared his normal self when headdressed the international cultural conference.
"There was a lot of curiosity, people trying to see whetherthere was anything wrong with him after all those reports," saidone hotel employee who saw Mugabe at the conference.
"He appeared fit and okay to me," said the employee, whoasked not to be identified.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation showed a video clip ofMugabe, wearing a grey suit, addressing the conference andurging delegates to take time to enjoy one of the wonders of theworld at the resort.