"The president left for Singapore on Friday," The Sunday Mail quoted Mugabe spokesman George Charamba as saying.

"He went for a review following a small medical procedure he underwent while on holiday in that country. He had a cataract in his eye so that was removed and he was asked to return by opticians."

Charamba said the veteran ruler would be back home in time for his 87th birthday on February 21.

Last month, a British newspaper reported that Mugabe had undergone a prostate operation in Malaysia, but Mugabe dismissed the media reports as "naked lies" on his return.

Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has been nominated by his party to stand again for president in elections expected later this year, which will end his shaky power-sharing government with long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai.