In an interview with The Financial Times, President Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed how he reduced his predecessor, Robert Mugabe’s entourage to Singapore from a health checkup from 38 to 22.
He said after he had received Mugabe’s request for a plane to Singapore he called back to query the number of people to travel with his former leader. Said Mnangagwa:
I phoned back and said: ‘Chef, you are going for a medical check-up. Why do you want 38 people?’ “He said: ‘Emmerson, I don’t know that list. I know it’s myself, my wife and my family.’ “I said: ‘No . . . You know the new dispensation . . . it’s a leaner cabinet. That can’t be understood if you are going to go for a medical check-up with a big number.’ “He says: ‘Emmerson.’ ”“He never says Mr President. He just calls me Emmerson.
More: Financial Times