President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is reportedly bearing all the costs for former President Robert Mugabe’s trip to Singapore for a routine medical checkup. Mugabe was reportedly scheduled to fly to Singapore to see his doctors on the 16th of November but was unable to do so after the Zimbabwe Defence Forces seized power in a military takeover which ultimately resulted in Mugabe stepping down. He left the country on Monday night. The trip to Singapore’s is Mugabe’s first since the military takeover.
George Charamba, previously Mugabe’s spokesperson and now the spokesperson for Mugabe’s successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, said that it was the state’s responsibility to take care of Mugabe’s costs as it was part of his package. Mugabe agreed to step down under immense pressure, but only after getting an immunity from prosecution deal as well as a guarantee for the safety of his family and their assets and businesses.
Speaking to AFP, Charamba said:
He is in Singapore. It’s part of his package as a retired president to travel overseas. He routinely goes to Singapore to meet with his doctors.
There is no quest to humiliate or ostracise him.
The idea was to extricate him from the clutches of the cabal which had captured him. That has been done so that his legacy comes out shining.
Mugabe is infamous for his frequent trips abroad and has been criticised for shunning the local health system and preferring medical facilities in Singapore and Malaysia for both himself and his family. His critics contend that Mugabe destroyed the Zimbabwe health system in the 37 years that he was Head of State.
Here is a video from AFP, which shows Mugabe leaving the hospital.
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