Robert Mugabe 'not asleep at public meetings but just resting his eyes'

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is just resting his eyes when he appears to fall asleep at public meetings, his spokesman has claimed.

The 93-year-old has been pictured with his eyes closed at a number of recent appearances, including at the World Economic Forum in Durban last week.

Pictures of Mugabe appearing to nod off at the forum went viral, with opponents saying they showed he was unfit for office.

Image:President Mugabe appears to sleep while Colonel Gaddafi speaks at a 2010 summit

But the president's spokesman said the leader was merely resting his eyes from bright lights.

George Charamba said: "I feel like a failure when there is this reading that the president is sleeping in conferences - no.

"At 93, there is something that happens to the eyes and the president cannot suffer bright lights.

Image:Asleep or resting? Mr Mugabe pictured with former Gabon president Omar Bongo

"If you look at his poise, he looks down, avoids direct lighting"

Mr Charamba compared the president to Nelson Mandela, whose eyes were sensitive to flash photography after years of working in a limestone quarry while imprisoned on Robben Island.

He said: "You were not allowed to even use flashes whenever (Mandela) was in the room."

Image:Mr Mugabe closes his eyes during an Africa Union meeting in July 2005

On Monday, Mr Mugabe travelled to Singapore for specialist eye treatment, his second medical trip in two months.

The president's foreign trips are often criticised in Zimbabwe, where healthcare has collapsed due to financial instability.

Mr Charamba said a "very black" Zimbabwean doctor supervises Mr Mugabe's medical care at home and the leader only flies abroad for specialist treatment.

Image:Nodding off? Mr Mugabe at a summit in 2009

Despite concerns over his health, Africa's oldest leader says he intends to run again in elections next year.

In February, his wife Grace said he would run "as a corpse" if he died before the vote.