Mugabe's tumble sparks memes

Meme created from a photo of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe falling. The photo went viral after Mugabe tried to ban its publication.

A picture of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe falling on red carpet at Harare International Airport has become an internet meme.

After photographers were allegedly "asked to delete images" of the fall, the 90-year-old president began appearing in a series of funny situations online under the hashtag "Mugabe Falls".

The memes appear online under the hashtag #MugabeFalls.

The memes feature an image of Mugabe in imagined circumstances, such as part of Beyonce's

Single Ladies

choreography, surfing and running from security forces.

Others show the ageing leader as an Olympic runner and with his hand on the infamous bottom of Kim Kardashian.

Zimbabwe's Government tried to deny the President had tripped at all, saying Mugabe "managed to break the fall".

The original picture of Mugabe tripping. Photo / AP

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo cited examples of leaders who have stumbled, from Jesus to George W Bush.

"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 on his own,' Moyo told the state-owned Herald newspaper.

- Daily Mail