Mugabe's frequent visits to Singapore for medical reasons have generated a state of uncertainty and panic within his deeply divided Zanu-PF party ahead of its annual conference in Bulawayo from December 6 - 10, where he is expected to be endorsed as the presidential candidate for the next polls amid infighting.

Senior Zanu-PF politburo officials expressed concern this week that Mugabe might falter when it matters most, due to mounting health problems and old age. He is 87.

"The president is back in Singapore again on medical grounds. He was there as recently as two weeks ago and this shows his condition is deteriorating," a senior politburo official said.

"Since the beginning of the year he has been shuttling between Singapore and Harare for medical reasons and this has created uncertainty, fear and insecurity within the party. It's clear all is not well and that is why there is need to address the situation at the annual conference in Bulawayo or on some other platform."

Another senior official said Zanu-PF feared it might be forced to find a new candidate in the middle of the polling campaign. The official said Mugabe's health was "causing sleepless nights for us".

"Imagine a situation in which your leader of the party and presidential election candidate falters during a campaign due to health problems . That would be a disaster. This is one of the biggest challenges the party has had to face in its history and something momentous has to be done to resolve the situation," the official said.

Insiders said Zanu-PF officials and state security service chiefs were panicking and had been holding informal meetings to discuss the situation.

Mugabe is under growing pressure to ensure that the Bulawayo conference is transformed into a congress to elect a new party leadership before the elections.

Mugabe this week travelled to Singapore for the eighth time this year after he cancelled his trip to the International Telecommunications Union summit on information communication technologies which is under way in Geneva, when Swiss authorities refused visas to senior members of his delegation, including his wife Grace.

He was initially expected to travel to Geneva for the summit and then to Singapore.

Mugabe returned from Singapore only two weeks ago, claiming he was on family business, but officials close to him insisted he had gone there for medical treatment.

After years of controversy over what he is suffering from, it has now been virtually confirmed that Mugabe has prostate cancer which has metastasised, spreading to other organs of the body and creating tumours. But he has in the past apparently consulted United Nations officials based in Harare over other ailments.

Attempts to convince the nation that he only has eye problems have failed. His security aides now always stick close to him to act timeously if he falls.

Doctors have reportedly advised Mugabe to retire to avoid straining himself.

By The Times (SA)