The president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, will undertake a working visit to Malaysia on 7 October 2016.

According to Bernama, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the president will be accompanied by his wife, Amai G Mugabe, three senior ministers as well as the governor of the Reserve Bank.

The last working visit undertaken by President Mugabe was in the year 2000.

According to Zimbabwe News Network today, the president left Harare for Kualar Lumpur just a few hours after opening the fourth session of 8th Parliament.

"While his office suggested he has left on a working visit, a source in government told our reporters that Mugabe and his wife are due for their regular medical check ups in the Far East," reported the news site.

The report claimed Mugabe is facing health problems and had been reported "spending most of his time sleeping, mainly because of old age and failing health".

The Mugabe family is said to proceed to Singapore for medical care shortly after the Kuala Lumpur visit.

Meanwhile Wisma Putra according to Bernama said during the course of the visit, Mugabe is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak. Both leaders are expected to discuss and exchange views on bilateral as well as multilateral issues.

The visit reflects the desire of both countries to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations especially in the area of trade, investment and education.

Total bilateral trade between Malaysia and the Republic of Zimbabwe was recorded at RM149.561 million in 2015.

Malaysia’s main exports to Zimbabwe are chemicals and chemical products, electrical and electronic products, machinery, appliances and parts, manufactured metals and plastics, rubber products, textiles and clothing, transport equipment, and wood products.