Minister’s rush to Mugabe’s defence after red-carpet trip

TAKING a tumble is no big deal, unless you’re President Robert Mugabe in which case a team of supporters goes into overdrive saying ‘even Jesus’ would have done the same.

Ridiculous reaction to red carpet trip

IT’S a faux-pas we’re all guilty of. But after Zimbabwean President tripped and fell on the red-carpet at Harare International Airport, his supporters went into overdrive to defend him.

“President Mugabe tripped over a poorly laid-out carpet at Harare International Airport, but remarkably managed to break the fall before walking to his car, evidently unscathed,” The Herald newspaper reported.

The final step led to the trip for the 90 year old who is due to turn 91 at the end of this month. Picture: AP Photo.

Local press blamed a ‘poorly-laid’ rug for the fall. Picture: AP Photo.

Journalists were asked to delete their photos of the faux-pas. Picture: AP Photo

Information minister Jonathan Moyo said “even Jesus” would have done the same in that situation.

“The misrepresentations and morbid celebrations of the incident by malcontents is the real news here and not the alleged fall as there was none,” he said.

“What happened is that the president tripped over a hump on the carpet on one of the steps of the dais as he was stepping down from the platform, but he remarkably managed to break the fall. I repeat the President managed to break the fall.”

MORE: Robert Mugabe’s most outrageous quotes

“And to be honest with you, even Jesus, let alone you, would have also tripped in that kind of situation.”

Local journalists claimed they were forced to delete photos capturing the awkward moment. The images that did make it on to social media became instant fodder for internet jokes.

I guess this is not the "fall of Mugabe" that the world was waiting for, but we'll take it! #MugabeFalls pic.twitter.com/FHWUJKww7C

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) February 5, 2015

A reader just emailed me with even more #MugabeFalls pictures including this one #blessed http://t.co/YwzJQKD9X2 pic.twitter.com/RFnPNQiz8P

— Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) February 5, 2015

Speechless! 🙆🙆🙆😂😂😂😂 “@MweneGatete: Can you do the #MugabeDance tho? #MugabeFalls pic.twitter.com/EFKrCcnk5H”

— Lindiwe Mazibuko (@LindiMazibuko) February 5, 2015

Ppl will never chill sha #MugabeFalls pic.twitter.com/zH14Ie0YAV

— Oma (@UmehOma) February 5, 2015

The best of Robert Mugabe stumbling http://t.co/XvbF26Gpge #MugabeFalls #MugabeStumbling pic.twitter.com/8gztLutqfK

— The Poke (@ThePoke) February 5, 2015

The 90-year old leader was addressing supporters after returning from Ethiopia where he was elected African Union chairman last week.