Mugabe falls down steps: Photojournalists ordered to delete pictures

February 5, 2015 Farai Mutsaka -AP 148 Comments

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, 90, fell down steps from a podium after speaking to supporters upon his return from Ethiopia, say witnesses.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, center, falls after addressing supporters upon his return from an African Union meeting in Ethiopia. (AP) (The Associated Press)
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, center, falls after addressing supporters upon his return from an African Union meeting in Ethiopia. (AP) (The Associated Press)
Mugabe falling over (AP)
Mugabe falling over (AP)

Mugabe appeared to miss a step and toppled when he left the raised lectern at the airport Wednesday afternoon, according to several witnesses, who insisted on anonymity because of security concerns.

His aides quickly helped him up and escorted him to his limousine which sped away, they said.

“He addressed supporters who welcomed him … He missed a step as he walked down from the podium and immediately fell down,” said a witness.

Some press photographers who captured the fall said they were forced to delete their pictures by security personnel.

Mugabe’s spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Mugabe was elected chairman of the 54-nation African Union at a summit of African leaders on Jan. 30 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The role of rotating AU chairman is largely ceremonial.

He celebrates his 91st birthday on February 21. Mugabe takes annual vacations every January to Asia, including Singapore where he has visited specialists for checkups on his eyes, according to Zimbabwean officials.

The Zimbabwean leader has repeatedly insisted that he is “fit as two fiddles.”

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148 replies on “Mugabe falls down steps: Photojournalists ordered to delete pictures”

  1. Viva comrade! It was just an accident… these things happen. Even the youth wld fall after missing a step.

  3. Old age doesn’t blow a whisle.This is the tym 4 this old man to retire his position and let others to rule the country.Kodi pension yawo adzadya liti poti zaka zawo zokhalira padziko zatsala pang’ono kupanga expire.Kodi wanzeru woposa iyeyu palibee?Shame kwambiri!!!

  5. This gentleman don’t have trust to anyone in his Government as well as his party whom can care the people of Zimbabwe. In short I can say; The man is too selfish.

  6. These people will be falling in such away as his colleague has done. I mean the one who is failing to give civil servants their salaries in time. What is the date today? If you see that your brain can no longer work it is better to go rather than waiting for the wind to push you. Everyone will become old but it’s you who knows better than everybody else. Kamuzu, our beloved leader did the same and this shows that your time is over. Let’s wait for ours who fails to give the civil Servants their salaries, it
    will be done soon.

  7. Kodi a Malawi bwanji, munthu wamkulu samagwa? Kodi anyamata samagwa? Kulakwa kukalamba? Inunso muzakalamba and anthu azanena zainu kuti pangani retire pa ntchito kodi anthu onsewa a age cheating m,bomamu simukuwawona? Time is waiting for you and you see.feel the same as Mugabe is experiencing.

    Watch out.

  8. Fit as two fiddles hahahahahahaha koma dis demi god of Zimbabwe. Hacha malayan gegegegegegegehe

  11. Yes, Kamuzu also fell down in Zimbabwe at the same age. Our dear Mugabe should
    now rest. Mama Mugabe advise him to do so while God wakes up after falling down.

    We need him to live long out of presidential stresses.

  12. TYPICAL OF AFRICAN DICTATORS THIS SIMILAR INCINDENT HAPPENED TO OUR FOUNDER AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF MALAWI RIGHT THERE IN HARARE, ZIMBABWE

  16. Munyaradzi and Shapaidze if you are still at BAK storage I remind you how you teased us in 1992 when your TV station was showing how our late Dr. Banda nearly fell from Sheraton Hotel steps. You said we Malawians were stupid and without morals keeping an old and frail man as our president. God just wants to show you that Late Dr. Banda`s fall was just an accidental like this one of your Cde Mugabe. History repeats itself.
    Now are you wiser than us? May be Madam Dumbutchena will tell us why they are keeping this old man as president. Aren`t there energetic and intelligent Zimbabweans to take the mantle from him?

  20. This is interesting, its Karma!
    In 1989, when CHOGM( commonwealth Heads of Government) meeting took place in Harare, our very own Kamuzu tripped and fell when walking into the hall because at that point the Presidents walk without bodyguards and Dr Banda had noone to alert him that there was a step ahead of him, as a bodyguard would normally do.

    Zimbabweans had a field day about it, and Zimbabwe nation TV repeatedly aired that clip, showing HKB falling, then they would rewind it, and show him falling again!!! Ndiye akuti they tried to confiscate the photos? Hahahahahaha! Uncle Bobby woyeee! Kulamulidwa ndi azigogo woyee!!

  23. No. 113, your wishful thinking will not help you.
    Young, very young, boys and girls die these days.
    You are not God to predict someone’s demise.
    If you do not watch out, you will be foretelling your
    own death.
    Watch what you think and write.
    Your wishes are not God’s deeds.

  24. Old age siyinama.ngakhale bam bowa angazole ponds, angachite ma exercise maka; ngakhale angazikakamize maka, ukalamba wafika pa chimake. He has never missed any step before but now he is finished. Kwatsala kudzikhala kukozedwa ndi kinyeredwa ngati mwana.

  25. It’s strange especially when people fit as a fiddle fall down. May be Prophet Liabunya’s prophecy will come to pass.

  27. In Aftrica,its a phenomenon that good news is not news.Thus Gabriel Robert Mugabe’s fall after a step miss is news to celebrate.Mwana wanga wazaka ten anagwa dzulo ataphonya step.Kkkkkkkkk.

  28. THIS IS A STORY ALRIGHT! THE FACT IS THAT HE FELL AND SINCE HE DOES NOT FALL EVERYDAY THIS IS NEWS AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT NEWS YOU DONT HAVE A CLUE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!

  30. Guys pa nyasatimes I think we are not getting it this is not just falling after missing a step it means the fall or Decline of Mugabe dictatorship ndani sakudziwa kuti that this guy due to age will die soon.Why ku Africa we elect old forks into power mwina chifukwa amdziwa history ndiye angakhoze 1 pa Maneb or we compromise on the fact that there is no substitute for experience koma kunena ngamo Mugabe angauze chani achina Gwamba,piksy,sonye,Young kay,Maskal in this technology driven world.

  32. If Obama fell down like that am sure it will be on CNN and BBC. Hes not just any normal human being hes a president thats why its news. Anything that a president does is news. reporters are there 24/7 to capture the rare moments of such individuals. I wish head ddnt wake up when he died, Dude is the oldest president on earth he should retire leave the seat to much younger leaders.

  34. You commentators who write things, try missing a step yourselves, and you will surely fall.
    President Mugabe is not the only person to have fallen. People fall all the time everyday. Instead of gloating that President has fallen, you should feel sorry. God will pity you that way.

    1. If you only knew how Zimbabweans gloated in 1989 when Kamuzu fell at Sheraton Harare, you would not be saying this.

      On social media there are many hilarious depictions of the fall – now dubbed the Mugabe Falls (a comparison to the Victoria Falls?).

      Mugabe, just like Kamuzu or Bingu, has made lives of millions hell on earth. People are entitled to poke fun at such megalomaniacs when there is proof that despite all their power, at the end of the day they are mere mortals…How the mighty are fallen indeed!

  35. This news all international news platforms and Nyasatimes is one such. See your yahoo. You will come across this story. The source of this story is not Nyasatimes.

  36. Anthu inu chilichonse kwelekwelekwele kwiyooooooooooooo muli ngati nkhuku ndikunyenyaninyeni .mungoti fefefefe,ndikunyenyenyani.

  38. Just A fall indeed but life is sometimes embroidered in symbolism especially for the ‘powerful’. I remember late Kamuzu’s fall in Zimbabwe and the events that followed. I am not a prophet by the way…. but i wait to watch..

  40. This is not news.Okalamba ,achinyamata onse amatha kugwa.He did not fall because of old age but he just missed a step.

  46. Hahahahahahahahaha! there is no issue here , we all trip off and fall. Why should it make headlines on Nyasatimes. Osamaseka akulu ananu, mukufunika mulandire mwambo ndithu.

  50. I see no any News to talk about how many of you and there is anyone who has not experienced the same at any age. Za ziiii zonokomera olo

  52. He reminds me of his old friend Hastings Kamuzu Banda. His first was also there is Zimbambwe after a summit. It was all covered up and it a crime worth a death sentence to publish a picture of his fall. But as people have said when it is sycronised in the will of time It is wise to accept the dictate of time and nature. For Hastings few people came to know it because there was social media as is for Robert but it was not long before denial brought him public national embarrassment. He started failing to read speeches, stammered beyond recovery and lines without recognition. At Robert’s age falling a reality for many. It is only natural and no need for being emotional or angry about it. But thank goodness he has had a good mental and body constitution. But now read it as a sign that time changed some articles in his body constitution and let him be advised accordingly.

  53. GOOD ADVICE: do something for yourself, for your family. Don’t waste your time talking about these already rich politicians while you are poor. Other people are enjoying their lives with money without even paying attention to these dirty and corrupted politicians. See how this poor and illiterate Malawi woman became a millionaire just by buying and selling cheap accidented vehicles. Very interesting. Go to ACCIDENTEDVEHICLES.COM to see all 5 companies she was dealing with to do this business, ACCIDENTEDVEHICLES.COM , wake up Africans

  55. Malawians, I really wander if it was our President would this have got this much attention. Would newspapers in Zimbabwe have published President Mutharika missing a step. To what end. Mocking a neighbourly President is not only un-African its insensitive. Is old age a crime. How many have grandmothers that old that are alive and can still fend for themselves. His age has nothing to do with us Malawians nor his perceived poor governance. Are we seeing Zimbabweans flocking to Malawi for greener pastures. No. In-fact its Malawians who are in their millions in Zimbabwe. Either way, this shows were we stand in global relevance because if it was a Malawian President who had fallen no one who write a hymn about it, that should tell us where we stand in the world.

  56. What makes this news to poo Malawians Bwana Nyasa Times? Will Mugabe’s falling bring relief to flood victims? Will it help to bring down the cost of living in Malawi? He is a human being just like the rest of us. Do not fall prey to the West’ hatred for him.

  59. theres no story here.akulu akulu who has never tripped and fallen down? zachibwana izi Mugabenso ndi munthu.he can fall down,he can fart,he can cry abale titaye nthawi ndi zimenezizi?

  60. Hey! if a prominent figure in the soceity falls down it is worth news. Whether it’s a president or any popular leader intenational or local. They are public figures! inuyo olo mutagwa headlong it’s nothing.

  61. The most unfortunate part of it all is that the 54 selfish individuals in their Africa club elected him chair of AU. It could have been better if Malawi was given that position not him at 91.

  62. am sure he has so many falls to come before he realizes its time out for him. with his Chairmanship, there will be a number of trips to Europe. EU has opened up for the old dude and he may fall again on a global platform. Vuma President Mugabe and enjoy life at the farm. zanu ndi zingati? akupatseni.

  65. wakula ameneyu asakhale ngati mu zimbabwe wanzeru ndiye yekha,.kodi mwina mulungu adamuuza kuti zimbabwe ndiyake?

  68. At what age is a president supposed to retire? At age of 90, one would wonder if Mugabe is still fit considering the current human life span.

  69. shame old man. step down and rest pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese. Kuchita kugwa ngati amavina break dance? shaaaa koma nkhalamba iyi kukakamira pa udindo.

  70. It happens to so many people only that MUGABE IS A HERO hence even falling down attracts the world! Congrants Mugabe for becoming our chair!!

  73. Zosekesa Izi mwanyanya kukakamira mu mipando kumavomeleza kuti mwadyapo and you are old you need retirement, what does the word retirement mean to African Presidents who need to rule until their death ankati ndi mumunda mwawo mzigwa choncho si kukalamba uku mphamvu zatha pumani a Mugabe

  74. It is news because it is Mugabe. Do you think people would have cared if it were somebody else?

  75. if you miss steps and remain active either you are lucky or you are a witch, bcz this is natural. u mis u fall

  78. Is this worth writing about? How many times do people fall in their life? Mugabe used to fall when he was teenager, none wrote anything. If I fall now would you write anything. If he was pushed then you should have written a story. Dont waste our time. Write about floods in Malawi instead or the concrete bins that are being positioned in Blantyre. That’s news to many of us to start being hygienic.

  80. So presidents should not fall down after missing a step? They should not constipate when they eat alot? They should not swell when they are bitten by a bee? Their bodies should not respond when they have all the feelings for the opposite sex? Come on! These are humans just like you and me are.

  82. For those who have read widely falling has a different meaning to an African leader. No wonder journos were told to delete the fotos. It signifies or it is a premonition of one’s downfall in politics or that he has reached such an age that he cannot control himself. I believe at that age even his I Q is at its lowest ebb. Please comrade do what Mandela did by stepping down otherwise you will die miserably.

  86. There is no newz here,anyone can fall if he/she stumbles or misses a step,wats the big deal,pple of zimbabwe loves him,its only u who have white minded brains who want to exploit africa and africans who hate him, long live mugabe

  87. Bvuma iwe ! bvuma ! bvuma wasakara! Oliver Mtukudzi sang and now it is happening.Why can’t you just accept that you have grown up and step down. Sorry for my African politics.

  90. You mean if you miss a step you can’t fall. Thus normal of course. Old age is just a plus. Everyone can fall

  97. If the story was that he toppled over while addresing the people, that would have been a story. But missing a step and falling down – it can happen even to a 21 year old!

  98. Is there anything wrong with somebody to tumble once in a while. Can anybody who has never slipped raise his hand. Mugabe is an icon. Man enough and Zimbabwe will cry for him if he passes on as people wish. Neocolonialist wants him out because they want to recolonise Zimbabwe.

    1. An icon who has turned one of Africa’s most affluent countries into a basket case that does not have its own currency. People who cry neocolonialism are simply despots who mistreat their own people far worse than the colonialists of old did.

      But the time for tyrants to go inevitably comes; and this fall is a sign that for uncle Bob the time is nigh. It is high time Zimbabwe took its rightful place among the nations once again…

  100. Palibe nkhani apa, zimachitikira ngakhale ife anthete. Btw, sitimaseka wamkulu akagwa kapena akaphunthwa ndiye ulemu wake. Indeed it was necessary for the journalists to delete the frames ‘coz that was not for public consumption. Pepani baba comrade! Omwe akukusekaniwo adzadziona akadzafika 91 years old, ngati atadzafikeko anyway. Keep well!

  104. Thats no story. That is not strange. It shouldn’t be news becoz its the president who has missed a step and fell down.

  107. Mugabe falling down? No he can’t, the pictures show he was breakdancing. Why should you reporters lie against this fellow who is ever young?

  108. Those are signs/Characterists of Africans Banana republics. They want to rule even at 100 yrs with fear that who ever may take over from him is also a banana

  109. Now we will hear T.B Joshua mpolofeti saying, I had prophesied kuti mtsogoleri wina wakummwera kwa Africa adzagwa

    1. Leave TB Joshua out of this pliz. Leave man of God out of this least you r cursed (God forbid) God says do not touch my annointed and do them no harm. So don’t harm(defame his character) with your words.

  112. Better just quit, the mind might want to be as fresh as you were in the 80s but the body is becoming weak and weaker each passing moment. Shame!

  113. He thinks he is larger than life. Unfortunately no man has ever conquered aging. You can only achieve to delay it.

  114. Signs of old age. Our dear father and founder Kamuzu Banda also fell down, surpringly enough, in Zimbabwe during an international meeting. Let us pray for him and Zimbabweans.

  118. Don’t sound like it is strange for somebody to fall when he/she misses a step. The whole world knows that Baba Mgabe is old and such occurings are not news at all. Don’t make the security look like Baba Mgabe is imortal. It is likely, you miss a step, you fall. Do redicule the olds, they also have had their time!

  120. Odala tulani pansi udindo mwakula. Bwanji liuma ngati wofula agalu. Mlaliki 3 akunena kuti kalikonse kali ndi nyengo. Mufuna mudzafe mukuyenda? Kapena mukuopa milandu kuti mukasiya upulezidenti akumangani.

  137. mugabe needs a walking stick like all grand fathers. why is he pretending to be young? when nature takes charge u cant turn the clock

  138. Comrade Gabliel wow you cant see your time is over you’re the only presindent who is order the whole Africa SHAME

  140. Kukalamba choncho osapuma. Akufuna agwe kangato before he realizes kuti wakalamba. Genuine Ngwazi naye anagwapp atakalamba. A Mugabe ulendo uwu tsopano.

    1. shame? what do you mean? so you’ve never seen somedody fall down? is that athing to cerebrate? amalawi tataya chikhalidwe so someone is in pain then you’re ululating!

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