Yahoo News Zimbabwe latest: Robert Mugabe 'falls asleep' at graduation ceremony in first public appearance since army takeover
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe appeared to fall asleep during his first public appearance since the military takeover.
Mr Mugabe, 93, appeared at a university graduation ceremony in capital city Harare on Friday morning – the first time he has been seen since the army stormed to power on Tuesday night.
He had been seized by troops and put under house arrest while his wife Grace was understood to have fled the country following unrest in the country.
But several commentators remarked the President appeared to be taking a nap during the ceremony at Zimbabwe Open University.
Footage shows the tryant, clad in a brightly-coloured academic gown and hat, resting his chin on his upper chest while his eyes are closed.
#Mugabe taking a nap during the graduation ceremony. I can’t blame him. It’s been a long week. #ZimbabweCoup pic.twitter.com/UnHPN72iPE
— girl,get it together (@Sisipho__) November 17, 2017
#Zimbabwe president Mugabe sleeping at the ZOU graduation where he is scheduled to cap students - 17 November 2017 pic.twitter.com/WNeBhugIU3
— Povo Zim (@povozim) November 17, 2017
News editor at Nairobi News, Kenfrey Kiberenge, tweeted: “Robert Mugabe makes first public appearance (asleep) since army takeover.”
University researcher Ragnar Weilandt said online: “Looked like Mugabe was asleep, only occasionally starting when applause for the speech erupted.
Looked like Mugabe was asleep, only occasionally starting when applause for the speech erupted. But then again, he is 93 and it didn't seem like an overly exciting event. There is a mic in front of him, wondering whether he will use it. #263Chat #twimbos #zimcoup https://t.co/lLFMmio44H
— Ragnar Weilandt (@RagnarWeilandt) November 17, 2017
“But then again, he is 93 and it didn’t seem like an overly exciting event.”
Heldana Tekeste said: “Is anyone else watching live coverage of Mugabe’s first public appearance? Yo they keep zooming in on him falling asleep at this university graduation ceremony”.
Others took to social media to remark on the napping president.
#Mugabe appears to have fallen asleep at uni ceremony - or "resting his eyes", as his spokesman likes to say
— Ed Cropley (@edwardcropley) November 17, 2017
Mugabe is asleep.......
— Chi'mwemwe Barack (@BarackCharle) November 17, 2017
According to sources, the long-serving president has been refusing to step down as leader without a fight.
Talks had been ongoing between Mr Mugabe, the army chief and South African delegates at his luxurious home in Harare.
Heavy gun and artillery fire were heard in northern parts of the city during the Tuesday night takeover, but the military denied it was a coup, instead claiming it was a “bloodless correction”.
President Mugabe has been in power for 37 years, since the country was liberated from white minority rule.
He is the world’s oldest head of state and one of the longest authoritarian rulers.
In the past he has been blamed for devastating Zimbabwe’s economy, turning it from one of Africa’s most prosperous countries to one of its poorest.
