'Chelsea used to join Bill Clinton so Bona joined Robert Mugabe'

President Robert Mugabe's daughter Bona was paying a courtesy call on Japanese officials when she was pictured with her father during an official trip to Japan, Zimbabwe's information minister Jonathan Moyo said on Tuesday.

"She's part of the first family. It was a courtesy call," Moyo said on his Twitter page.

"Chelsea Clinton used to join [former US president] Bill [Clinton] in similar cases with no eyebrows raised," he added.

News that Bona Mugabe, 24, sat with her 91-year-old father and his foreign minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi during discussions with officials in Tokyo sparked a fears in Zimbabwe that the president may be trying to build a dynasty to maintain a hold on power after he retires or dies.

Pressed to answer more questions on the issue, Moyo said: "Leave me alone. It's none of your business or mine for that matter."