Cartoon by 'The Zimbabwean': «People could bring charms and weapons.»

© The Zimbabwean / afrol News

afrol News / The Zimbabwean, 3 November - Like so many dictators before him, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has been reduced to living in terror and now trusts no-one, not even his closest colleagues. His private mansion has been turned into a bombproof shelter and even visiting politburo members have to obey strict security measures.

To pander to his increasing paranoia, workmen are currently fortifying his retirement mansion in the plush Harare suburb of Borrowdale Brook - building a bombproof underground shelter and placing concrete posts around the perimeter of the massive property.

The 82-year-old Zimbabwean leader, who has been in power since independence in 1980, has repeatedly made fanciful claims that he faces a "terrorist threat" from local opposition forces in British pay.

But now, not only does he fear outsiders, but even those closest to him.

Senior ruling party insiders have reported that politburo members are now being thoroughly frisked before going into meetings.

They say the move is an indication of the siege mentality gripping President Mugabe, who apparently fears that people could bring charms and weapons into meetings.

Mr Mugabe - who is currently participating at the China-Africa Summit in Beijing - has said that his lieutenants were approaching traditional healers for good-luck charms to help them become President after his announced retirement in 2008.

The underground bombproof chambers are being built by reinforced concrete and designed to withstand intense military pressure that includes aerial bombings. This is on top of imposing a no-fly-zone above his mansion and banning neighbours taking walks or driving anywhere which puts them in full view of the mansion.

The same Harare sources said the only plausible explanation was that Mr Mugabe was preparing for any eventuality in Zimbabwe, including the possibility of a civil war over his plans to cling on to power.

It was not possible to get comment from the Zimbabwe government as Acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana has banned all interviews with 'The Zimbabwean' and the independent press.

Also Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi snubbed 'The Zimbabwean' when he was originally contacted for comment on Zimbabwe's arms importation programme three weeks ago. The CIO, which is jointly working on the bunkers project with the Ministry of Defence, refused to comment.

By Gift Phiri

© afrol News / The Zimbabwean

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