In a statement yesterday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed that ailing Vice President Chiwenga’s condition remains “remarkably stable”.
This according to him was because some Chinese medical experts attending to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga have only completed extensive tests and are now beginning treatment.
Just twenty- four hours earlier, Mnangagwa also issued a statement declaring that Former president Robert Mugabe, who has been admitted to a Singaporean hospital since April is also in a remarkably stable condition, but remains hospitalised at the insistence of his physicians.
“Former president and founding father of our nation, Cde R.G Mugabe remains detained at a hospital in Singapore where he is receiving medical attention.
“Unlike in the past when the former president would require just about a month for this, his physicians this time around determined that he be kept under observation for much longer, from early April this year when he left for his latest routine check-up,” President Mnangagwa said.
“From the report the team gave me at the weekend, 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,” President Mnangagwa added.
VP Chiwenga last month left South Africa, where he was receiving treatment, for China. The transfer followed a decision by Zimbabwe and China to allow Chinese experts to join fellow experts in Zimbabwe, South Africa and India in attending to the Vice-President.
“Further to my communication last month updating the Nation on the condition of our Vice-President, Dr CGDN Chiwenga, I wish to add that the Vice-President has now completed extensive tests required by the Chinese Medical Team attending to him, thus paving way for the commencement of actual treatment.
“While it is still too early in the treatment process, I am advised that the Vice-President’s condition remains remarkably stable, with the initial strict regimen imposed on him at the time of his admission being gradually eased to allow greater access by close family members. Arrangements are underway already to ensure close family members are within call of the Vice-President,” President Mnangagwa said in the statement.
President Mnangagwa promised to continue keeping the nation posted on VP Chiwenga’s health but said he would do so while observing respect for patient confidentiality.
Incidentally, when Mnangagwa met his party’s Politburo last month, he told them that the country’s economy was also in a remarkably stable condition.
This he said at a time when prices of basic commodities and fuel are shooting up on a daily basis and giving Zimbabweans a hard time.
Judging from what Zimbabweans address experiencing everyday on the economic path, should Mnangagwa be trusted in his assessment of Chiwenga and Mugabe?