This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
Former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has been in hospital in Singapore for the past four months, his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed on Monday.
President Mnangagwa stated that Mugabe has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment in Singapore and was responding positively to the medication.
"Founding president and founding father of our nation (comrade) Robert Mugabe remains detained at a hospital in Singapore where he is receiving medical attention," Mnangagwa said in a statement.
According to Mnangagwa, Mugabe's physicians determined that he be kept under observation for a longer period than usual, from April this year, when he left for his latest routine check-up.
President Mnangagwa sent a delegation led by chief secretary to cabinet Misheck Sibanda to Singapore last week to check on the 95-year-old former president.
"I am greatly pleased to inform the nation that the former president continues to make steady progress towards eventual recovery and that his condition is remarkably stable for his age," Mnangagwa said.
With Mugabe's condition showing improvement, the government is ready to make arrangements for his return and continued care and treatment once he is released from the hospital.
Former President Mugabe was ousted from power in a bloodless military 'coup' in November 2017 after ruling Zimbabwe for 37 years.
