harare retire correspondent cris chinaka work reuters harare 1990 2015. report zimbabwe ziana news agency moto weekly newspaper reflect third century cover uncle bob two image robert gabriel mugabe jump memory illustrate contrast side man lead zimbabwe 37 years first combative ebullient 57-year-old dress olive green military-type suit die days white-run rhodesia wave clench fist air scold opponents rally supporters march confidently towards birth new nation zimbabwe second shrink 93-year-old slump cushion seat snooze wife grace 40 years junior whisper ear place colorful cowboy hat head thousands fawn zanu-pf party faithful applaud nearly four decades separate two episodes zimbabwe eye critics decline state leader hollow impotent object ridicule first image first meet mugabe february 1980 zanu-pf rally southeastern province masvingo ahead vote would mark independence britain mugabe usher stage security guard introduce shake hand ask interview warm attentive approach junior reporter say newspaper moto weekly one favorite publications aside nationalist editorial line paper may also appeal jesuit-educated mugabe publish catholic church belong shortly conversation mugabe survive would one many assassination attempt land mine explode narrowly miss vehicle motorcade head back capital harare long one-on-one meet three years late march 1983 india commonwealth scholarship study postgraduate degree journalism mugabe pride elephantine encyclopedic memory must brief background students zimbabwean mission function delhi introduce remark oh roman catholic man right five years late cover official visit brussels zimbabwe national news agency mugabe chief protocol tell excellency young roman catholic man father return journey mugabe come presidential section plane economy class frequently trip chat members delegation time sit next ask wife new baby daughter also discuss job current affairs get leave 30-minute conversation mugabe say sound like intelligent young man go journalism joke rare insight mugabe man would late accuse gag free speech individual right really think news business one say die mugabe know name daughter tariro many years would ask sometimes think remember bear around time daughter bona foreign trip around africa europe opportunities discussions mugabe invariably subject mission always get sense give away glimpse real thoughts feel even years advance ability recall distant facts figure desert retain sense humor especially suggestions way 2010 secure interview reuters usher office greet sit behind desk return remark smile aargh man report die interview last 90 minutes cover everything health desperate state economy western sanction zanu-pf government blame ills befall nation story focus denial suffer cancer feature first time line would repeat many time follow years jesus die resurrect poor mugabe several time say clap hand glee cover mugabe reuters 'you 're one say 'm die