Mugabe in S’pore for check-up
Singapore: Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe, who was ousted from power last month, visited a Singapore hospital during a trip to the citystate for a medical checkup.
It was the first time he has been seen in public since he was forced to resign after a military takeover brought a sudden end to his authoritarian 37year reign.
The 93yearold was seen leaving a lift in Gleneagles Hospital in downtown Singapore around midday, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, and accompanied by eight people, journalists said.
He walked quickly out of the building before he and his party were driven off in two cars.
Two hospital employees, speak ing anonymously as they were not authorised to talk to the media, confirmed to reporters that Mugabe had visited.
A spokesman for Gleneagles declined to comment, citing patient confidentiality.
His former spokesman George Charamba said on Thursday that Mugabe was visiting Singapore for a medical checkup as “part of his package as a retired president to travel overseas”, adding the new government was keen to show him respect.
The military stepped in on Nov 14 and ushered President Emmerson Mnangagwa into office after a power struggle with supporters of Mugabe’s wife Grace, 52, who had emerged as his chosen successor.
Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe from independence in 1980, is accused of brutal repression and bringing the country to economic ruin.
He has been in increasingly frail health and has reportedly battled prostate cancer.
In recent years he has made several trips to Singapore, a popular medical tourism destination, for undisclosed medical reasons.
Mnangagwa was formerly one of Mugabe’s closest allies, and the ruling ZANUPF party remains in control. — AFP