Reviled at home but relaxed in Hong Kong, Robert Mugabe stocks up on shoes and suits

There aren't many cities in the world where Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe can spend a carefree day shopping. Hong Kong is one of them.

The 86-year-old African leader went shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday - and suits and shoes were at the top of his list.

Flanked by a team of officers from the Hong Kong police VIP protection unit, Mugabe - who is reviled by many in his country and viewed as a pariah by some in the global community - swept into Harbour City in Canton Road and headed straight for a high-class tailor's shop before moving on to a shoe and accessories outlet.

A spokesman for the government's protocol division said the African strongman, who has been in power for 30 years, was not on an official visit. His daughter Bona is studying accountancy at City University.

On Friday, Mugabe met President Hu Jintao in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, having earlier in the week attended events surrounding Zimbabwe Day at the World Expo in Shanghai. He also met Vice-President Xi Jinping in Beijing before heading for Hong Kong.

China has been a key international supporter for Mugabe despite domestic and international criticism of him in recent years which has seen him accused of practising racism against Zimbabwe's white minority. He has also been accused of human rights abuses and of ruining the country's economy.