Simon Khaya-Moyo battling hypertension

Minister of Policy Coordination and Promotion of Socio-Economic Ventures in the President's Office Simon Khaya-Moyo is reportedly battling hypertension-related illnesses  in South Africa.

Khaya-Moyo, the ruling party's secretary for information and publicity, has not been reporting for duty for the past three months and has also been conspicuous by his absence at many government and ZANU-PF functions.

According to the Financial  Gazette, Khaya-Moyo has been unable to attend the last four Politburo meetings, resulting in Ignatius Chombo, the party's secretary for administration, assuming some of his responsibilities, including making important public announcements.

He has also missed important national events such as the Heroes and Defence Forces days, amid reports that he is spending much of his time in a South African hospital, although he often flies back home.

"Speculation is rife that Khaya-Moyo could have succumbed to the energy-supping hard politics playing out in ZANU-PF.

His political fortunes took a knock in 2014 after he was accused of being part of a faction led by Joice Mujuru, who was President Robert Mugabe's deputy back then' the publication said.

Presidential spokesman, George Charamba said  he would not publicly discuss someone's health issues.

"I am not competent to talk about someone's personal health issue," said Charamba.

However, an unnamed  family source said: "He spent about three weeks in a South African hospital last month and came back at the end of the month. He flew back to South Africa last week as his condition deteriorated. As of now, I am not sure if he is back in the country. He is battling hypertension".