HARARE - Robert Mugabe’s nephew said Sunday the ousted Zimbabwean president was in good health and “quite jovial” after being forced to resign when a military takeover ended his 37 years in power. Leo Mugabe however declined to discuss the $10-million retirement bonus reportedly granted to the 93-year-old former president as part of a deal that finally persuaded him to resign on Tuesday.

“He is fine. I have been to see him, he is quite jovial,” the son of Mugabe’s late sister Sabina told AFP. “He is actually looking forward to his new life — farming and staying at the rural home. He has taken it well.”

But he added that Mugabe’s wife Grace was now concentrating on plans to build a university in his honour. “I like the spirit she has, she is with him all the time. She is an amazing person. She wants to continue planning the Robert Mugabe University so they have something to do,” he said.

Zimbabwe announced plans in August to build the $1-billion post-graduate university in Mazowe, 35 kilometres (20 miles) outside Harare. The plan drew fierce criticism as Mugabe is accused of brutal repression and bringing the country to economic ruin.