The letter addressed to the Editor reads: “President Robert Mugabe is reported to have collapsed after suffering a heart attack while on holiday with his family and is in critical condition.

“His spokesperson George Charamba has refused to comment. But sources close to the president are said to be holding high level meetings as it is believed that he won’t be able to recover.

“The report says the army will most likely be deploying soldiers in the streets of Harare in the next coming days.”

It is not the first time rumours are being circulated of Mugabe’s health as he had been rumoured dead in 2014 after viral reports that he was in a critical health state.

However, the rumours were later rebuffed after Mugabe was confirmed to be on a two weeks holiday in Singapore.