PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is reported to have missed a step and fallen off a podium moments after arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, sending his entourage into panic and instant action.
Journalists were prevented from taking photos and those who had already done so were ordered to delete them. It probably is not for the first time that he has fallen, possibly having done so in private.
With Grace recuperating in the Orient and not available to hold his hand to steady his walk, Mugabe is likely to continue to fall.
He has a string of duties in the home front, Sadc responsibilities and African Union obligations.
A 91-year-old would under normal circumstances be providing knowledge to younger people in power from the comfort of his home away from the demands of party and national presidency and regional and continental body chairpersonship.
He would be spending most of his time sitting. Falling in public and after assuming the AU mantle could bode ill for Mugabe.
Perhaps the African gods are awake after all and are sending a message to all of us that it is time to rest the old man instead of piling so many responsibilities on him.
The gods could be smiling and blessing us to make the right decisions on a man overworked. Sections of Zimbabwean community were at one time towards the end of 2014 believing that the country was being run by Grace. It is not possible that she will extend her expertise into running Sadc and the AU.
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Much as the AU helm is rotational, it still befuddles rational thought how the African continent would pass on the baton to a chair that will collapse on returning home.
Zimbabwe would likely run the risk of becoming a laughing stock when its own revered fighter of the liberation struggle stumbles and falls on each trip on the noble duty of running the many fronts that have been heaped on the shoulders of such an old man.
In Animal Farm, the celebrated and ever strong Boxer had to be retired at some point when he could no longer kick himself out of the box.
Likewise, Zimbabweans might have to accept that the strong fist of liberation can no longer be lifted with the same vigour as before – Boxer simply has to be put out to pasture.
