I've heard Chavez praise Mugabe. Since I'm from Zimbabwe I don't need any information from Chomsky or the Daily Mail or anyone else to know what kind of a thing, since I don't like using the word man for such people, he is from this fact alone.
I hope that there's no fighting because people rally against outsiders even when the insiders are worse.
As it is I think he benefits in every way because he can sabre rattle and boast and not expect any reaction. At home everyone will think him brave for pulling this off but I doubt he'll actually do anything much (famous last words etc) because that would have to provoke reaction and he'd risk losing completely with corresponding loss of face.
He's probably a mover in the FARC/whatever reunion and that's a nice safe way for him to destabilise Colombia.