The Sunday Mail
Senior Reporter
Government is supporting former First Lady Janet Banana, who is reportedly ill, by paying her medical bills after she reached out to President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year.
Mrs Banana (83) is widow to Zimbabwe’s first post-independence President Canaan Banana, who died in 2003.
The former First Lady reached out to the President from her base in London, where she reportedly had become destitute.
President Mnangagwa told The Sunday Mail yesterday that Government has committed to assisting Mrs Banana.
“She appealed to me last year that she was destitute and she was in London, then we decided that it was important to have a human face as a Government,” he said.
“So we took her on board and we are giving her support.
“She is a former First Lady of this country and we cannot ignore that, so we are supporting her.”
Banana’s son, Nathan, could not be drawn into commenting on the issue.
“I am not in a position to comment on those issues because she has her right to privacy and these are personal issues,” said Mr Banana.
“I would not be qualified to comment on issues to do with her health or the support she could be getting from whoever.”
President Banana led Zimbabwe from independence until 1987.
He later passed on in the United Kingdom in 2003.
