Society a two Edged Sword

Customs and values in our society are stronger than the law, stronger than religion and pave way for male domination over females.  Some things apply to men and if the same happens to be done by a woman there are all sorts of connotations attached to the very same activity.  We can argue the finer points about this issue and we may even get to a place where some people can believe that men and women are equal.  To the contrary, this is not true.  The only statement that rings true in our African society is the fact that “men are more equal than women”.  There is nothing more and nothing less to it.  We live in a patrilineal society, where a man can force his partner or spouse to have intercourse, and can never be charged for it.  This is unlike the newspaper headlines screaming “women rape man at gunpoint”.  A man can have multiple partners and it is called “barika” but a woman in the same position “ari kuhura”.  Double standards? Yes  and it does not end there.

Zuma's Three Wives

 I read a story once about a woman in a rural part of Zimbabwe who had multiple husbands and there was a great outcry from the village in which she lived.  Many people expressed “disgust” at her behaviour and her son is even said to have disowned his mother.  I found it very interesting that a whole village would make it their business to speak about this -her delicate situation.  At the same time the fact that this was an even newsworthy story speaks volumes of what our society thinks about women in polygamous relationships.  Apparently there is a term for this and it is called polyandry.  It goes without saying though that for many men, there is no excuse for having many women at his beck and call.  I have heard the statement a million times that no woman should ever think they are alone in a relationship.  Our society allows men to have multiple partners and its okay, women cannot do the same as it ultimately makes them a prostitute, and a horde of other names I can think of but will not dare to write in this forum.  We are ignorant to the fact that in some Tibetan societies, polyandry is common.  The widely marketed reason for this practice is the general belief that any child should be financially secure, and one father might not be able to provide for that particular child sufficiently. This therefore results in a woman carrying out multiple relationships openly so as to support her children.  Unfortunately for us, African women, particularly Zimbabwean women, we cannot have the best of many worlds.  We stick to one partner, sometimes not because that is what we want, or because there are sexually transmitted infections out there, but because society says so.

My mother often talks to me about the major differences between courting and dating. She has given me enough the lectures about staying “pure’ until I get married, and that I can achieve this by staying away from situations that can potentially lead me to temptation.  It is a fact that rings true lately that more and more, young girls are sexually active before they get married, in fact statistics show that at least 45% of girls between 12 and 18 are sexually active.  I am sure that many parents are actually unaware of this fact, unless something goes horribly wrong and their young wards get pregnant.  Why are parents unaware of their children’s extracurricular activities? It is because they do not talk to them, and they want to believe that all girls get married virgins.  Our society has many expectations of the female child and we often expect that to be the path that they follow.  Funny how after the wedding night, in some parts of our country people still expect that the bride’s sheets be paraded around the household so that they can establish that she was indeed pure. If we however take a good look at this practice, it might be no surprise that it is flawed and one sided- the bridegroom was probably responsible in his hey days, for deflowering many girls.  Who then gets to marry those ones? If society applauds the young man for exploring his sexual capabilities, while restricting the young woman, how do we expect things to really turn out? Is this not then the very reason why many marriages are founded on deception and lies? As women try to maintain a saintly appearance to her in-laws and the society at large?


I wonder if women have duty placards written on their foreheads.  She cooks, she cleans up after him, she does the laundry, she nurtures the children and sometimes she is responsible for all this after she has been through an eight hour working day.  It is nevertheless of note that women are still below her male counterpart in the workplace. The entry level is very different from the working conditions, despite the many calls for equality in business circles.  How can I, the single woman compete with my male colleague who can attend meetings after work with the company seniors, over drinks to discuss business, while I have to rush home and help my mother prepare the evening meal?   Most women in the work places can be admired, humoured and tolerated at most but usually never taken any more seriously, unless they fight for what they believe is rightfully theirs.  It also goes without saying that in most work places, women are victims of their own sexuality.  We can suffer sexual violence from our bosses and justice can be very hard to come by. There is no chance that the business sector is equally competitive for both men and women.  Men have an upper hand without doubt.  It is seen as their domain, while women are expected to perform miracles, mergers and decrease interest rates in the kitchen.

Bachelors are common place in our societies and yet bachelorettes are not very welcome.  Any young woman looking to living by herself, becoming independent, while waiting for Mr Right to come along is not taken seriously.  The common view is that she wants to exercise her freedom and start being naughty, hence the vehement discourage.  What then is the difference between a young man and a young woman who is growing up in the same society and probably got the same education?   Why does he seem to get ahead and while she struggles and lag behind?   The main reason why anyone would want to leave home is so they can grow up and be more responsible. Many a time we are very comfortable staying at home, that we come very dependent.  Harsh reality usually hits us when the parent dies, leaving us to fend for ourselves, the very reason why prostitution seems to be on the increase.  Economic freedom is something that everyone wants, but at times our people make it very difficult for a girl to attain it, while handing the keys on a silver platter to any young man.

I can spend the whole day, talking about how independent women are seen as controlling freaks who probably got some concoction from a witchdoctor to make their husbands submissive, how trousers are generally seen as disrespectful when worn by a woman.  If one then chooses to wear a skirt that shows her figure, it is seen as an invitation to be raped or harassed by men.  We can even talk about the idea that women seen in night spots and pubs are all prostitutes that should not be taken seriously, unlike the fact that most of them are just a bunch of people out having a bit of harmless fun.  So there we have it. Society is just but a two edged sword, encouraging men to do as they please while condemning women to silence and misery!







I am an administrator by profession.  I have a first Degree in Political Science, and I started the first year of my Masters  in International Relations but i am yet to finish it. I am a sports woman, and have participated in Rugby and Basketball at National level. I did my primary school in Mutare, Chancellor Junior and high School in Domboshava, at a Catholic mission.  I am passionate about women issues.



I would like to know your views and please do not hesitate to comment below your thoughts, suggestions and views.


CategoryLatest , living , Tafadzwa Bvindi , Top News

Mutare Mayor's Corner - 15 September 2011

Geetings. I thank the reader for his comments on my last column regarding the Sakubva Stadium! It is true that the stadium and all other Council amenities are run down and have lacked maintenance certainly over the last decade if not since independence. We are in the process of refurbishing our master plan and Spacial Land use plan (the previous one expired in 2002) and as an elected council we are working towards attracting urban architectural work for various areas within the city. 






Sakubva Stadium




 These areas can vary from the entrances into the City, a possible cultural belt along the stream running from the Mutare Museum to the Civic Centre and Queens Hall. A link to Meikles Park and over the ridge into our newly transformed main (Aloe) Park. The idea is that once these plans have been submitted to council and approved by the wider public the development opportunities can then be offered to the business community ensuring that our City develops in an orderly and publicly agreed direction. So therefore the Sakubva Stadium and its refurbishment will be included in this architectural work.


Having mentioned our Meikles Park in the above paragraph it is worth commenting on the disturbing developments regarding this important asset of ours! I am sure a lot of you are not aware that the Meikles Park is broken into two portions (commonly known as reserves) The front one of which abuts main street now Herbert Chitepo Street and was bequeathed to the City by the Meikles family for the enjoyment of the general public. The other portion is open for development and has over the years been sold a couple of times and been reposed due to the lack of development. It is with this in mind that Council received a request from a Chinese Diamond mining consortium in partnership with our national Military for the development of a fourteen storey hotel and supermarket complex. Council in our wisdom agreed to the sale (although not going out for open tender it is within our jurisdiction to accept individual proposals). A price was subsequently asked for and documentation securing guarantees of funding for this project were asked for. Since then our parent ministry has entered the fray and we have been advised that the property is required for development in the national interest and that we should hand it over forthwith and government would consider a land swop elsewhere within the City. We as an elected Council are not particularly happy with this development as we are now informed that no one, least of all our parent ministry, knows what type of development is now going to take place. You can be assured that the writer of this column and his fellow councillors will not be arm twisted into relinquishing a lucrative piece of property without adequate compensation and consultation with the public. It is unfortunate that this request and mystery development comes at a time well before our spacial land use plans and architectural endeavours have been completed.


Until next time,


Best regards


Councillor Brian James
Mayor.


Please provide any feedback, comments and questions you have below

Mugabe's party says WikiLeaks claim that president has cancer is false

(CNN) -- President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF party dismissed Monday a "confidential" cable released by WikiLeaks that claims the Zimbabwean leader has cancer.
WikiLeaks claimed Friday that Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono had told the former U.S. ambassador Christopher Dell during a private meeting in 2006 that Mugabe had prostate cancer that had spread to other organs.

"If he was that ill (in 2006), how come he is still going strong? I have seen him for a long time and even last week, he has no health problems. There is a lot of things that are not true in that," said Rugare Gumbo, Zanu PF spokesperson, referring to the WikiLeaks cable.
The cables claimed that Grace, Mugabe's wife, had told Gono that the 87-year-old was "out of it about 75% of the time."

"The governor (Gono) confided that Mugabe appeared to be deteriorating mentally and losing his capacity to balance factional interests," Dell wrote in his report after meeting Gono who has repeatedly denied claims of having an affair with Grace. "She (Grace) wanted him (Mugabe) to step down."
Gono did not answer several calls made to him by CNN.

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Goes Electronic

A company has been engaged to supervise the transition of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange to electronic trading. A document on the change has been presented to Cabinet and issues around setting up a Central Securities Depository including the shareholding structure. According to a report in the Government’s Herald newspaper, Finance Minister Tendai Biti told a breakfast meeting organized by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe and the ZSE that the CSD could be in place by year-end.
The aim is to improve stakeholder relations and explore possibility for other capital or financial markets to be set up. Minister Biti said the CSD was a critical part of a modern capital market system as it reduced the payment cycle, enhanced transparency and helped monitor the shareholding thresholds of foreign investors participating on ZSE.
He said that the CSD would help prevent irregularities. Apparently the minister said that currently only about 20 investors accounted for most of the trading in the 79 listed counters. He claimed that the CSD will improve liquidity, promote market integrity and transparency while minimising market manipulation, fraud and financial crime.
According to a report in a South African newspaper called “Sunday Times Zimbabwe”, the Minister would also like to modernize the ZSE Act and the Securities Act and possibly introduce a “super regulator”, similar to the UK’s Financial Services Authority (in June 2010 the UK Government announced plans to abolish the FSA and split its functions). This report claims that 20 of the “shadowy players” were virtually controlled by the same individuals, and Renaissance Financial Holdings Limited was accused of wrongdoing because of insufficient measures to detect insider dealings.
According to the Herald, the Minister said: “The main issue being dealt with is the shareholding structure of this systematically important institution (CSD), which should reflect national ownership by both the public and private sector players.” He said that the National Social Security Authority, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe or the ZSE would own at least 51% of the CSD company. Another significant shareholder will be Chengetedzai, a local private firm which is overseeing the establishment of the electronic trading system (the website http://chengetedzai.com/) appears to be just a title page.
The government seeks to demutualise the bourse, which it believes will enhance accountability and speed modernisation. Currently the bourse is still an association of stakeholders while demutualization would mean turning the exchange into a company driven by the profit motive or other goal. Minister Biti said demutualisation was critical to prevent cartels of members from dictating the affairs of the bourse, which created credibility crises and could put off investors. There has long been tension between the ZSE and the SEC over jurisdiction and self-regulation.
ZSE trading is done in daily “call-over” sessions when brokers gather around a table and bid against each other. However, trading is more active than on many more automated neighbouring exchanges.
According to the report, the Minister said: “When you go to the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and see the way they trade it gives the impression that we are still stuck in 1950. It is as if someone pressed a pause button on the TV and everything stopped. We have to modernise and part of it is coming up with a CSD,” he said.
SECZ chairperson Mrs Willia Bonyongwe said the country wanted to set up more securities and capital markets and challenged innovative Zimbabweans to come forward with proposals. She suggested markets could assist in trading equities, bonds, quasi or hybrid financial instruments, asset securitisation and unitisation, hedging or risk commodity markets and private equity instruments, or even trade in agriculture and mining products. The ZSE is the only active capital market.
In early August the ZSE website (www.zse.co.zw) was hacked twice in early August and used phishing and has currently disappeared.

Details of Joyce Mujuru Secret Meeting with US Ambassador Charles Ray









             In an informal and introductory meeting, which circumvented Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) protocol, the Ambassador and Vice President Joice Mujuru discussed sanctions, the Global Political Agreement (GPA), and ZANU-PF.
Mujuru hewed to the party line on sanctions, claiming that sanctions on institutions were hurting ordinary Zimbabweans. The Ambassador responded that the U.S. was looking for progress on the GPA as a predicate to lifting these sanctions. On the GPA, Mujuru maintained that ZANU-PF had made significant concessions; the most critical outstanding issue was sanctions. Without separating herself from President Robert Mugabe, Mujuru said that new and younger leadership was entering ZANU-PF and the party would gradually evolve. The meeting was friendly and, at a minimum, opened up a channel of communication. END SUMMARY.
2. ZANU-PF government officials normally will not meet with us unless a request is sent out to the MFA. The MFA then schedules the meeting and sends a note taker. Through a Mujuru advisor, David Butau, we requested an informal meeting to better establish a relationship and facilitate an exchange of views. Three days after the conclusion of the ZANU-PF Congress, Mujuru agreed to a meeting, but it was only at the last minute that logistics were arranged. Mujuru, who is acting president while Mugabe is in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, wanted to ensure that the meeting with the U.S. ambassador was private and undisclosed.
3. The meeting took place in an unoccupied house owned by Mujuru on the outskirts of Harare. The affluent and powerful are not immune from frequent Harare power cuts, and the neighborhood was dark. While the house had electricity, irregular power had shorted most of the lights. A Mujuru employee who led us through darkened grounds to an unfurnished living room (except for chairs and a plasma television) where Mujuru and Butau were waiting already. The Vice President had managed to shed all of her (presumably CIO-infiltrated) security. She herself poured tea. The meeting was friendly and respectful; at the end, Mujuru said she would like to meet again and continue the conversation.
4. Not surprisingly, Mujuru began the discussion with sanctions. She argued that while she and others were targets, they were not hurt. Rather, ordinary Zimbabweans were suffering because of sanctions on institutions such as ZB Bank and Agribank, which had historically provided loans to small businesspersons and farmers. Now, because of sanctions, they were illiquid and could not lend. The Ambassador acknowledged that sanctions were an emotional and pervasive issue. There might be willingness in Washington to look at non-personal sanctions, but this was not a one-sided process. With progress on GPA issues, the U.S. would consider responding. How did she see progress, the Ambassador asked?
5. Mujuru stated that the most critical GPA issue was Q5. Mujuru stated that the most critical GPA issue was sanctions. ZANU-PF thought that by signing the GPA and agreeing to a government with the MDC it had given more than the MDC. The MDC had made a number of unhelpful “pronouncements.” At various times, according to Mujuru, it had urged Zimbabwe’s neighbors to withhold electricity and fuel. It had asked western countries to maintain personal sanctions. ZANU-PF officials, according to Mujuru, were becoming “unsettled” and wanted to see MDC movement on sanctions. (COMMENT: The Ambassador noted that the MDC could not remove sanctions — this was up to western governments — and Mujuru did not dispute this. But she wanted the MDC to cease its “pronouncements.” We expect an announcement on December 21 by the GPA principals on GPA issues that have been resolved, probably commissions and the appointment of governors, and it would not be surprising for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at that time to suggest that at least some non-personal sanctions be removed.
6. Mujuru continued that there was a distinction between politics and government. While efforts were on going to resolve political differences, the government was making progress. A bill to limit the powers of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s governor was close to passage, and Zimbabwe had just signed a bilateral investment treaty with South Africa. She pleaded for U.S. help to restore Zimbabwe’s economy.
7. After commenting that the U.S. was providing substantial assistance (food and medical) to the people of Zimbabwe, the Ambassador replied that, sanctions or no sanctions, Zimbabwe could begin to regrow its economy. This would require restoring external and internal confidence — investors needed to know there was security of contracts and no excessive government interference in the economy. In other words, businesses would accept economic risk, but it was necessary to remove political risk.
8. Turning to politics, Mujuru said the ZANU-PF old guard was giving way to “young blood.” She noted that she (55 years old) and new Party Chair Simon Khaya Moyo (64 years old) are on the younger side and form one-half of the ZANU-PF presidium (along with Mugabe and new vice president John Nkomo). The presidium would be together for five years. Mujuru concluded, “Let’s work together.”
9. While Mujuru is inculcated with ZANU-PF ideology, evidenced by her views on sanctions, she and her husband, General Solomon Mujuru, are business people who understand that a friendlier and more stable business environment requires political change. She also would like better relations with the U.S., which she views as essential for Zimbabwe’s economic growth. This no doubt motivated her desire for a non-official meeting with the Ambassador immediately after the ZANU-PF Congress. The fact that she was impelled to have a clandestine meeting is reflective of the power of Mugabe and hard-liners and the fear they engender. It also shows the weakness of the party, in that it will not tolerate its second highest-ranking official having a private meeting with the U.S. ambassador. (Tsvangirai had no qualms about informally and openly meeting the Ambassador. Ref A.)
10. Because of her gender, Mujuru is an unlikely successor to Mugabe (Ref B). But she occupies a prominent position in ZANU-PF and will likely be part of the power structure after Mugabe. We know from other sources that she and her husband would like to see Mugabe move on. She was cautious in her first meeting with the Ambassador, but we will pursue the relationship both to gain insights into ZANU-PF and to encourage reform efforts. ENDS

Gideon Gono Confirms that Robert Mugabe has Prostate Cancer and has 2 years to live (wikileaks)


Robert Mugabe has prostate cancer and has been told by doctors that he could be dead by 2013, WikiLeaks documents have revealed.

Zimbabwe's 87-year-old president was apparently diagnosed with the condition several years ago and warned in 2008 that it could kill him within five years.
Details of his sickness were confirmed in secret U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.

It provides the first confirmation that the end of Mugabe's rule could be in sight.
He was told to stand down amid concerns about his failing health, according to the cables. When his death comes, it is expected to cause a serious internal power struggle.
The documents show that America's former ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee was informed of Mugabe's condition on June 4, 2008 during a private meeting with Gideon Gono, a close friend and governor of Zimbabwe's reserve bank.

In a cabled summary of the meeting, Mr McGee reported: 'Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, told the Ambassador on June 4 that President Robert Mugabe has prostate cancer that has metastasised and, according to doctors, will cause his death in three to five years.


    'According to Gono, Mugabe's doctor had recommended he cut back on his activities.
    '(NOTE: Gono told us last year that Mugabe was ill and that his doctor had urged him to step down immediately. Mugabe had told his doctor, according to Gono, that he would leave office after the election).'
    Confidant: Gideon Gono, Mugabe's close friend, apparently told the U.S. diplomat about Mugabe's diagnosis
    Confidant: Gideon Gono, Mugabe's close friend, apparently told the U.S. diplomat about Mugabe's diagnosis
    Mr McGee's cable was entitled 'Ambassador's meeting with Gideon Gono' and sent to Washington from Harare on June 6, a few weeks before 2008's contested Zimbabwe elections.
    In his note, the ambassador speculated that given Mugabe's rapidly faltering health, it was likely that even if the aging Zanu-PF leader won the upcoming poll that he would stand down by the end of the following year.
    He wrote: 'Given Mugabe's health, and the desire of many within Zanu-PF that he step down because of the state of the economy, it is likely the latest date Mugabe will stay in office, assuming he wins on June 27, is December 2009.
    'This is when Zanu-PF will hold its scheduled Congress to re-elect officers.
    'It is also quite possible that after a June win, Zanu-PF will begin the succession game resulting in a departure for Mugabe earlier than December 2009.'
    The diplomatic cable was marked 'confidential' but published online last week as part of Wikileaks's huge dump of unredacted notes.
    The dictator has appeared increasingly frail during recent years and was widely believed to have been suffering from cancer.
    This year alone he has made at least five trips to Singapore, where he is believed to be receiving treatment at a top private clinic.
    However those around the leader have maintained a wall of silence over his health, and his spokesman has repeatedly claimed Mugabe's hospital visits were to receive treatment for a problem with his eyes.
    Today local media in Zimbabwe reported that Gono had denied telling Mr McGee about Mugabe's sickness.
    In a brief statement given to the New Zimbabwe website, he said: 'It's a lie. I wouldn't even dare talk about that.'
    Despite his illness, Mugabe makes significant effort to ensure he continues to be seen as a powerful figure.
    His Zanu-PF party has ruled Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980.
    Since then the Mugabe has been condemned for a litany of human rights abuses and for allowing the economy to collapse.


    The two leaders later formed a unity government, with Tsvangirai serving as prime minister since February 2009.
    However Mugabe has repeatedly signaled his intention to call fresh elections, and said last week that the country would return to the polls early next year.



    Gideon Gono Confirms that Robert Mugabe has Prostate Cancer and has 2 years to live (wikileaks)


    Robert Mugabe has prostate cancer and has been told by doctors that he could be dead by 2013, WikiLeaks documents have revealed.

    Zimbabwe's 87-year-old president was apparently diagnosed with the condition several years ago and warned in 2008 that it could kill him within five years.
    Details of his sickness were confirmed in secret U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.

    It provides the first confirmation that the end of Mugabe's rule could be in sight.
    He was told to stand down amid concerns about his failing health, according to the cables. When his death comes, it is expected to cause a serious internal power struggle.
    The documents show that America's former ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee was informed of Mugabe's condition on June 4, 2008 during a private meeting with Gideon Gono, a close friend and governor of Zimbabwe's reserve bank.

    In a cabled summary of the meeting, Mr McGee reported: 'Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, told the Ambassador on June 4 that President Robert Mugabe has prostate cancer that has metastasised and, according to doctors, will cause his death in three to five years.


      'According to Gono, Mugabe's doctor had recommended he cut back on his activities.
      '(NOTE: Gono told us last year that Mugabe was ill and that his doctor had urged him to step down immediately. Mugabe had told his doctor, according to Gono, that he would leave office after the election).'
      Confidant: Gideon Gono, Mugabe's close friend, apparently told the U.S. diplomat about Mugabe's diagnosis
      Confidant: Gideon Gono, Mugabe's close friend, apparently told the U.S. diplomat about Mugabe's diagnosis
      Mr McGee's cable was entitled 'Ambassador's meeting with Gideon Gono' and sent to Washington from Harare on June 6, a few weeks before 2008's contested Zimbabwe elections.
      In his note, the ambassador speculated that given Mugabe's rapidly faltering health, it was likely that even if the aging Zanu-PF leader won the upcoming poll that he would stand down by the end of the following year.
      He wrote: 'Given Mugabe's health, and the desire of many within Zanu-PF that he step down because of the state of the economy, it is likely the latest date Mugabe will stay in office, assuming he wins on June 27, is December 2009.
      'This is when Zanu-PF will hold its scheduled Congress to re-elect officers.
      'It is also quite possible that after a June win, Zanu-PF will begin the succession game resulting in a departure for Mugabe earlier than December 2009.'
      The diplomatic cable was marked 'confidential' but published online last week as part of Wikileaks's huge dump of unredacted notes.
      The dictator has appeared increasingly frail during recent years and was widely believed to have been suffering from cancer.
      This year alone he has made at least five trips to Singapore, where he is believed to be receiving treatment at a top private clinic.
      However those around the leader have maintained a wall of silence over his health, and his spokesman has repeatedly claimed Mugabe's hospital visits were to receive treatment for a problem with his eyes.
      Today local media in Zimbabwe reported that Gono had denied telling Mr McGee about Mugabe's sickness.
      In a brief statement given to the New Zimbabwe website, he said: 'It's a lie. I wouldn't even dare talk about that.'
      Despite his illness, Mugabe makes significant effort to ensure he continues to be seen as a powerful figure.
      His Zanu-PF party has ruled Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980.
      Since then the Mugabe has been condemned for a litany of human rights abuses and for allowing the economy to collapse.


      The two leaders later formed a unity government, with Tsvangirai serving as prime minister since February 2009.
      However Mugabe has repeatedly signaled his intention to call fresh elections, and said last week that the country would return to the polls early next year.



      Gideon Gono Confirms that Robert Mugabe has Prostate Cancer and has 2 years to live (wikileaks)


      Robert Mugabe has prostate cancer and has been told by doctors that he could be dead by 2013, WikiLeaks documents have revealed.

      Zimbabwe's 87-year-old president was apparently diagnosed with the condition several years ago and warned in 2008 that it could kill him within five years.
      Details of his sickness were confirmed in secret U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.

      It provides the first confirmation that the end of Mugabe's rule could be in sight.
      He was told to stand down amid concerns about his failing health, according to the cables. When his death comes, it is expected to cause a serious internal power struggle.
      The documents show that America's former ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee was informed of Mugabe's condition on June 4, 2008 during a private meeting with Gideon Gono, a close friend and governor of Zimbabwe's reserve bank.

      In a cabled summary of the meeting, Mr McGee reported: 'Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, told the Ambassador on June 4 that President Robert Mugabe has prostate cancer that has metastasised and, according to doctors, will cause his death in three to five years.
       


        'According to Gono, Mugabe's doctor had recommended he cut back on his activities.
        '(NOTE: Gono told us last year that Mugabe was ill and that his doctor had urged him to step down immediately. Mugabe had told his doctor, according to Gono, that he would leave office after the election).'
        Confidant: Gideon Gono, Mugabe's close friend, apparently told the U.S. diplomat about Mugabe's diagnosis
        Confidant: Gideon Gono, Mugabe's close friend, apparently told the U.S. diplomat about Mugabe's diagnosis
        Mr McGee's cable was entitled 'Ambassador's meeting with Gideon Gono' and sent to Washington from Harare on June 6, a few weeks before 2008's contested Zimbabwe elections.
        In his note, the ambassador speculated that given Mugabe's rapidly faltering health, it was likely that even if the aging Zanu-PF leader won the upcoming poll that he would stand down by the end of the following year.
        He wrote: 'Given Mugabe's health, and the desire of many within Zanu-PF that he step down because of the state of the economy, it is likely the latest date Mugabe will stay in office, assuming he wins on June 27, is December 2009.
        'This is when Zanu-PF will hold its scheduled Congress to re-elect officers.
        'It is also quite possible that after a June win, Zanu-PF will begin the succession game resulting in a departure for Mugabe earlier than December 2009.'
        The diplomatic cable was marked 'confidential' but published online last week as part of Wikileaks's huge dump of unredacted notes.
        The dictator has appeared increasingly frail during recent years and was widely believed to have been suffering from cancer.
        This year alone he has made at least five trips to Singapore, where he is believed to be receiving treatment at a top private clinic.
        However those around the leader have maintained a wall of silence over his health, and his spokesman has repeatedly claimed Mugabe's hospital visits were to receive treatment for a problem with his eyes.
        Today local media in Zimbabwe reported that Gono had denied telling Mr McGee about Mugabe's sickness.
        In a brief statement given to the New Zimbabwe website, he said: 'It's a lie. I wouldn't even dare talk about that.'
        Despite his illness, Mugabe makes significant effort to ensure he continues to be seen as a powerful figure.
        His Zanu-PF party has ruled Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980.
        Since then the tyrant has been condemned for a litany of human rights abuses and for allowing the economy to collapse.


        The two leaders later formed a unity government, with Tsvangirai serving as prime minister since February 2009.
        However Mugabe has repeatedly signaled his intention to call fresh elections, and said last week that the country would return to the polls early next year.