Vice-President John Nkomo is reportedly ill and is receiving treatment at a South African hospital where he was admitted three weeks ago, it has been learnt.
Reporter by Staff Reporters
Nkomo’s son Jabulani yesterday confirmed the Vice-President was receiving treatment out of the country, but allayed fears he was in a serious condition.
“As you know, he has not been well for some time. He has taken leave to recover (and) take a rest. He has been in and out of the country for his reviews and we expect him back in action by this weekend,” Jabulani said.
Zanu PF insiders, however, told NewsDay that Nkomo was in bad shape when he left the country. “He went to South Africa about three weeks ago and at one point, we heard that his condition had deteriorated in the first week. We are not sure exactly what his condition is like today (yesterday), but he was bedridden,” a party source said.
“Nkomo was supposed to officiate at the opening of a store in Gwanda recently, but (Zanu PF national chairman) Simon Khaya Moyo ended up presiding over the event because of the Vice-President’s absence.” The sources added that Khaya Moyo and other senior party members were standing in for Nkomo at various national events.
Nkomo is reportedly suffering from cancer. At the burial of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration co-minister Gibson Sibanda in 2010, Nkomo said he and Sibanda had been diagnosed of cancer at the same time.
Nkomo was also absent at the official opening of the Second All-Stakeholders’ Conference on the draft constitution in Harare on Monday. This is not the first time that his health has reportedly deteriorated.
