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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe in Singapore for medical checkup | Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe in Singapore for medical checkup |
| (30 days later) | |
| Robert Mugabe has left Zimbabwe for Singapore for a routine medical checkup, according to state radio. | Robert Mugabe has left Zimbabwe for Singapore for a routine medical checkup, according to state radio. |
| After several trips to the Asian country in the past year, it is the first time the state broadcaster has officially disclosed reasons for the 88-year-old president's departure. | After several trips to the Asian country in the past year, it is the first time the state broadcaster has officially disclosed reasons for the 88-year-old president's departure. |
| The announcement follows reports in Zimbabwe media loyal to Mugabe on his fitness – even that he has a strict exercise regime and awakens before the rest of his household – in efforts to deflect speculation about his health. | The announcement follows reports in Zimbabwe media loyal to Mugabe on his fitness – even that he has a strict exercise regime and awakens before the rest of his household – in efforts to deflect speculation about his health. |
| In local media, Mugabe's allies have recently praised him for his energy and decisiveness. The finance minister, Tendai Biti, a senior aide of the prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, described Mugabe as alert and wise in lengthy face-to face-meetings. | In local media, Mugabe's allies have recently praised him for his energy and decisiveness. The finance minister, Tendai Biti, a senior aide of the prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, described Mugabe as alert and wise in lengthy face-to face-meetings. |
| "We find counsel and wisdom in him. He is a very seductive man ... you will be shocked by the calmness," said Biti in an interview published in full by the state Sunday Mail newspaper this week. Biti is known as a firebrand in the coalition. | "We find counsel and wisdom in him. He is a very seductive man ... you will be shocked by the calmness," said Biti in an interview published in full by the state Sunday Mail newspaper this week. Biti is known as a firebrand in the coalition. |
| Mugabe's wife, Grace, his former secretary, half his age, in a similar interview run verbatim in the state media, said the couple begin their day at 5am or earlier, "depending on our schedule". "It is my husband who gets out of bed first," she said. "He will not miss his morning exercises, seven days a week." | Mugabe's wife, Grace, his former secretary, half his age, in a similar interview run verbatim in the state media, said the couple begin their day at 5am or earlier, "depending on our schedule". "It is my husband who gets out of bed first," she said. "He will not miss his morning exercises, seven days a week." |
| She suggested longevity ran in the family: "He is very lucky he inherited his mother's genes. We think when she died she was over 100 years old and she was very sound and never sick at all." | She suggested longevity ran in the family: "He is very lucky he inherited his mother's genes. We think when she died she was over 100 years old and she was very sound and never sick at all." |
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