Harare - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe – who rarely misses an opportunity to travel attend conferences – has again left the country for South America while her wife, Grace, heads to Russia.
The world’s oldest President is attending the World Health Organisation (WHO) conference in Uruguay on non-communicable diseases.
“The First Lady will travel to Russia and represent the President at the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) set for Moscow. She will receive an award on his behalf and join youths from across the world,” according to sources quoted in Newzimbabwe.
Mugabe’s frequent foreign jaunts anger the opposition, which questions why the 93-year-old leader does not delegate his subordinates to attend international conferences or seminars.
He has also come under heavy criticism from a cross-section of Zimbabweans, many of whom condemn the old leader for blowing millions traveling across the globe when the cash-strapped government is even failing to buy painkillers for public hospitals.
The President who has earned the moniker ‘the Visiting President’ travels with a huge entourage, including his children.
Early this year, he reportedly blew more than US$1 million chartering an ultra-luxurious Boeing 767-200 Extended Range aircraft to Ghana and Singapore.
However, Mugabe’s administration has defended the foreign travels as a necessary investment for the country.
