News / National
Mugabe now confined to a wheelchair
25 Nov 2018 at 14:11hrs | Views
Former President Robert Mugabe has been receiving medical treatment in Singapore and is now no longer able to walk.
Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades since independence from Britain in 1980, will be 95 next February.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who desposed Mugabe with the help of the military, made the announcement, but did not reveal the nature of Mugabe's treatment.
Mnangagwa said Mugabe had been expected to return from Singapore in late October, but his health required he stay an extra month, and he is now expected back in Zimbabwe at the end of November.
"He is now old. Of course, he now is unable to walk but whatever he asks for we will provide," Mnangagwa told supporters in Zvimba, Mugabe's home area about 100km west of capital Harare.
"We are looking after him," Mnangagwa added, labelling Mugabe as, "the founding father of free Zimbabwe".
In the past, officials have said he was being treated for cataracts, denying frequent media reports that he had prostate cancer.
Towards the end of his reign, Mugabe was criticised for spending increasing amounts of time and money abroad receiving treatment in Malaysia and Singapore, while ordinary Zimbabweans had to make do with the country's own under-resourced hospitals.
In April 2017, Zimbabwe Cabinet ministers presented a mobile chair to Mugabe to "enable him navigate his way around his office as well as at home".
The mobile chair, otherwise ordinarily referred to as a wheelchair, was presented as a belated birthday gift during a ceremony at his office. Critics said it confirmed that old age had taken its toll on the Zanu-PF leader who turned 93 in February.
Mugabe thanked the ministers for coming up with the idea of the gift, saying this was an indication of a good working spirit in his Zanu-PF government.
"I thank all of you for putting your heads together to come up with this gift," he said as he took delivery of the special mobile chair which insiders claimed was bought in China.
"The gift shows the team spirit which should always prevail all times in the delivery of service to the nation."
But there was derision on social media and in the opposition as critics said the development confirmed Mugabe was "incapacitated", citing advanced age and alleged ill-health.
Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades since independence from Britain in 1980, will be 95 next February.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who desposed Mugabe with the help of the military, made the announcement, but did not reveal the nature of Mugabe's treatment.
Mnangagwa said Mugabe had been expected to return from Singapore in late October, but his health required he stay an extra month, and he is now expected back in Zimbabwe at the end of November.
"He is now old. Of course, he now is unable to walk but whatever he asks for we will provide," Mnangagwa told supporters in Zvimba, Mugabe's home area about 100km west of capital Harare.
"We are looking after him," Mnangagwa added, labelling Mugabe as, "the founding father of free Zimbabwe".
In the past, officials have said he was being treated for cataracts, denying frequent media reports that he had prostate cancer.
Towards the end of his reign, Mugabe was criticised for spending increasing amounts of time and money abroad receiving treatment in Malaysia and Singapore, while ordinary Zimbabweans had to make do with the country's own under-resourced hospitals.
The ministers presented Mugabe with a special mobile chair.Wy call a spade a big spoon? It's a wheelchair! @Wamagaisa @lilomatic @BitiTendai pic.twitter.com/eGlhNSHlcS
— Makomborero Haruzivishe (@MakomboreroH) April 3, 2017
In April 2017, Zimbabwe Cabinet ministers presented a mobile chair to Mugabe to "enable him navigate his way around his office as well as at home".
The mobile chair, otherwise ordinarily referred to as a wheelchair, was presented as a belated birthday gift during a ceremony at his office. Critics said it confirmed that old age had taken its toll on the Zanu-PF leader who turned 93 in February.
Mugabe thanked the ministers for coming up with the idea of the gift, saying this was an indication of a good working spirit in his Zanu-PF government.
"I thank all of you for putting your heads together to come up with this gift," he said as he took delivery of the special mobile chair which insiders claimed was bought in China.
"The gift shows the team spirit which should always prevail all times in the delivery of service to the nation."
But there was derision on social media and in the opposition as critics said the development confirmed Mugabe was "incapacitated", citing advanced age and alleged ill-health.
Source - ZimLive
