Mugabe back home

President Robert Mugabe returned home this morning from Singapore where he had gone to have an eye operation. Speculation about his health had started doing the rounds in the media after he failed to return home yesterday to mark his 90th birthday. The official party, however, is at Marondera tomorrow.

To mark his birthday, the Washington Post had the following memorable quotes about Mugabe:

On the United Kingdom: “Why run to Britain, a very cold and uninhabitable country with nowhere where you can say you can live happily? The houses are very small, why go there?”

On gay rights: “Those that engage in such acts are insane. We cannot tolerate this, otherwise the dead will rise against us.”

At the state funeral of one of his Cabinet ministers: “I am still the Hitler of the time. This Hitler has only one objective: justice for his people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people and their rights over their resources. If that is Hitler, then let me be Hitler tenfold. Ten times, that is what we stand for.”

On the U.K., again: “They are even using gay gangsters on us.”

On criticism of his regime from President George W. Bush: “These are the last kicks of a dying horse.”

On gay people: “They are worse than dogs and pigs. I keep pigs, and the male pig knows the female one.”

When asked if he plans to run again for president: “Why do you want to know my secrets?”

On cricket: “Cricket civilizes people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe; I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen.”

On himself: “Only God will remove me!”

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