BY CHIEF REPORTER
HARARE
President Robert Mugabe is believed to have hatched an escape route in the event of a defeat at next month's presidential polls. This is despite assurances from his opponents that he would be granted immunity from prosecution.
The ailing 84-year-old has been sounding out some of his African neighbours and his dwindling number of friends abroad about providing him with a safe haven.
Fearing that his opponents might try to jail him before he had a chance to slip into exile, Mugabe reluctantly agreed that overtures should be made to opposition rivals.
He is said to have asked South Africa President Thabo Mbeki to arrange a deal about his future at a four-hour meeting in Harare two months ago.
One of Mugabe's main challengers, Simba Makoni, stated this week that if he won the crucial vote "space would be made for President Mugabe to live out his days without fear of prosecution".
Mbeki, who is believed to be backing Makoni's candidature through his Third Force project, has communicated to Makoni the need to ensure a dignified departure for Mugabe, though undeserved, in the belief that this would be in the interest of Zimbabwe and SADC.
The secret deal is believed to have been put to Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to give Mugabe immunity from prosecution and allow him to go into exile abroad.
The deal also guarantees that Mugabe's wife, Grace, and his three children can leave, but the Tsvangirai has insisted that if he wins he will ensure that Mugabe does not take any looted money and treasures with him.
In addresses to his loyalists, Mugabe still refuses to countenance defeat, but his closest advisers are saying that he is facing the end of his 28-year rule.
Security sources said Mugabe had the crew of his presidential helicopter on 24-hour standby and the aircraft is parked on the lawn of State House should a swift getaway be needed. The question remains where Mugabe will choose for his exile, although in fiery speeches recently he has maintained "here I was born, here I will die."
Sources said he will elect to stay in Africa, even though he has cultivated cordial ties with government leaders in Malaysia, Thailand, Cuba and North Korea, among thers.
"African leaders are trying to persuade him not to rig the elections on March 29, and to go peacefully if he loses," said a senior government official.
Nevertheless, it is by no means certain that Mugabe will bow out gracefully if the vote goes against him.
The 2008 election is also peculiar in that an absolute majority is required for any presidential candidate to be declared the winner and Mugabe knows the possibility of anyone obtaining the requisite 51 percent or higher is far-fetched.
There are fears among diplomats in Harare that Mugabe could blame international interference for a flawed election and try to rule by martial law.
Mugabe last month told the SADC troika on Politics, Defence and Security that he would not accept an election result that meant the "re-colonisation of Zimbabwe". This has been interpreted as being a direct reference to the opposition MDC as Mugabe has frequently labelled Tsvangirai a puppet of the British government.