Robert Mugabe ‘no longer able to walk’ as health rapidly declines
Zimbabwe‘s former president Robert Mugabe is no longer able to walk as his health rapidly declines, his successor has said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa told ruling party supporters at a rally on Saturday that the 94-year-old has been in hospital in Singapore for two months.
“He can no longer walk but we will continue to take care of him,” Mr Mnangagwa said.
The current president took over from his former mentor a year ago after Mr Mugabe stepped down under military pressure.
Mr Mnangagwa said Mr Mugabe was supposed to return to Zimbabwe on October 15 but was not feeling well.
He did not give further details about Mr Mugabe’s condition.
The former president is now expected to return to Zimbabwe on November 30.
Mr Mugabe was the world’s oldest head of state before his dramatic exit last year, having led the country for 37 years.
In a speech in July, on the eve of the nation’s historic election, he said he would not vote for Mr Mnangagwa and his former party Zanu-PF.
“I will not vote for those who have illegally taken power,” he declared.
He said he quit to “avoid bloodshed”, blaming “evil and malicious characters” while accusing Mr Mnangagwa of conniving with the military chief to pull off a “coup”.
