HARARE – Vice President Kembo Mohadi is in South Africa receiving medical treatment since July 8, ZimLive has learnt.
The development means both of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputies are indisposed, and both are seeing South African doctors.
Constantino Chiwenga, 63, has been receiving treatment at a Pretoria hospital since June 23, and has been away from work since mid-May.
The 69-year-old Mohadi, who had been acting president, was flown to South Africa shortly after Mnangagwa returned home at 2AM on July 8.
Mohadi was at the airport, but was clearly unwell, according to sources. A decision had already been made to fly him to South Africa.
The nature of Mohadi’s illness is unknown, but his medical flights to South Africa have been growing in frequency over the last year.
In June last year, he spent several weeks receiving treatment after he was caught by an exploding grenade at White City Stadium and suffered leg injuries.
Mohadi missed Cabinet on Tuesday and a meeting between Mnangagwa and a visiting delegation from the International Air Transport Association on the same day. He was unusually absent too at a State House meeting between Mnangagwa and 12 ambassador-designates on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Mohadi was conspicuously absent when Mnangagwa attended World Population Day commemorations at the newly-opened Tariro Clinic and Youth Centre in Hopley, Harare.
Owing to Zimbabwe’s poor medical facilities, top government officials regularly seek treatment abroad at taxpayers’ expense.
Mnangagwa and Mohadi prefer South African hospitals, while Chiwenga has spent nearly a month over the last year being treated in India.
We reached out to the presidency for an official comment, but they had not responded at the time of publication.
