A BICYCLING father-of-three has packed his bags and is ready to fly out and meet feared Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe – dressed as a clown.

Richard Pantlin, from Hurst Street, East Oxford, has packed his juggling balls, comedy horn and oversized boots ready for his trip from Heathrow to the trouble hit African nation on Sunday.

He intends to cycle the 373-mile from Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe, to the capital, Harare, to meet Mugabe and offer him his present of a 20-year- old postcard bought on his one and only previous visit to the country.

Mr Pantlin, who is undertaking the daring dash to raise money for charity, said he also hopes the postcard will remind the leader of happier times in Zimbabwe and put a smile on his face.

He said: “When I visited before times were very different.

“The postcard shows happy smiling Zimbabwean people going about their daily business.

“To me the gift represents what the country once stood for.

”We are still waiting to hear back from Mugabe’s people at the Zimbabwean government, but I have spoken with the Charge D’Affaires at the Zimbabwean Embassy and he called it a “noble project ”.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all but “essential travel” to certain parts of the African country and tells travellers to stay away from low income areas and keep a low profile.

But Mr Pantlin and cycle partner Asher Mupasi, a Zimbabwean currently living in Birmingham, insist they are not worried, and will dress in colourful clown costumes, complete with red noses, and perform clown tricks for locals, before bedding down in a tent each night.

The two men, who will be accompanied by an off duty Zimbabwean policeman, have also made a play list of around 150 songs, including tracks from Reggae Legend Bob Marley, and R and B singer Kelis, to pump out of loud speakers as they cycle.

A Foreign Office spokesman said she had heard about Mr Pantlin’s trip and added: “We can’t tailor travel advice for individuals.

“But we strongly advise people to look at the warnings on our website.

“The situation remains unpredictable and incidents of violence across the country continue. It could deteriorate further, without warning.”

Mr Pantlin, who will also be taking cow bells to attach to the outside of his tent to alert him to wild animals and unwanted night time visitors, said he remained unconcerned and was looking forward to the trip.

He added:“My wife and children I think are just looking forward to having me back home safe and sound. I hope we will have the support and hospitality of the Zimbabwean people and we will bring back a sense of fun and laughter to the community as we ride.

“I also want to prove that it is perfectly OK for a white Englishman to cycle through the country which is full of resourceful and hospitable people – despite the appalling press in the UK.”

Mr Pantlin hopes to raise about £12,000 for the charity Health Education and Learning Programme — enough to complete an orphanage in central Zimbabwe.

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk