{ Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe returned home Thursday from his annual holiday in the Far East and apologised for extending his stay abroad while his wife was receiving medical treatment.}<\/p>\n
“I would like to say we are sorry, we took a long time away from home,” he said addressing government, party officials and supporters gathered at the main airport to welcome him back.<\/p>\n
“Mai (Mrs) Stop-It had pain in her side which was nagging her,” Mugabe said referring to his wife by her nickname.<\/p>\n
“It was found that she has appendicitis. She had a successful operation the day before yesterday and is now recuperating in hospital.”<\/p>\n
Mugabe’s wife Grace earned the sobriquet Mrs Stop-It for her frequent use of the reprimand during Zanu-PF party rallies where she attacked perceived foes plotting to topple the ageing leader.<\/p>\n
The Mugabes left for the annual holiday in mid-December and were due back last week.<\/p>\n
Newly-installed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was left in charge in Mugabe’s absence.<\/p>\n
In his address, Mugabe, who turns 91 in a month, disparaged long-time ally Didymus Mutasa who was among a host of party officials expelled in a purge against allies of Mugabe’s former deputy Joice Mujuru.<\/p>\n
“A stupid fool cannot be corrected,” Mugabe said referring to former presidential affairs minister Mutasa.<\/p>\n
“There is nothing you can do to a straying grey ass. It’s a graying ass just braying. We have no time for individuals of little brains, disorganised, mentally deranged if not close to being insane.”<\/p>\n
Mutasa issued a statement last week threatening a legal appeal against the expulsion and demotions of several Zanu-PF party officials including Mujuru and party spokesman Rugare Gumbo.<\/p>\n
Mujuru and Mutasa were accused along with several others of plotting to topple Mugabe in a sustained campaign of attacks by the first lady.<\/p>\n
AFP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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