Robert Mugabe's lavish retirement package includes first-class flights, a five-bedroom house and 23 staff

Former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe will be entitled to a five bedroom house with guest wing and swimming pool and up to 23 staff in an extraordinary pension settlement.

The 93-year-old, who was forced to resign his position as Africa’s oldest leader last month following a military coup, has been awarded full diplomatic status by his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mr Mugabe, his wife Grace, 52, and their three children will also be entitled to 23 staff including two drivers, two private secretaries, two gardeners, cooks and housekeepers and an additional six-strong security detail, according to the pension settlement which has been chronicled in the official government gazette.

He has been living with his family at his private home in the plush Borrowdale suburb, and the pension entitles him to "payment of a lump sum which is equal or equivalent to the value of the private residence".

If he chooses to build a new home, the property “should not exceed a reasonably sized house with five bedrooms, a guest wing with three bedrooms, a study, swimming pool, two guardrooms and two garages,” according to the gazette.

His wife and children must be provided with suitable state accommodation after Mr Mugabe dies.

The Mugabes will also receive diplomatic passports, private air and rail travel for four international trips a year and medical care.

He is also entitled to a Mercedes Benz S500 Series or an equivalent class of motor vehicle, a four-wheel drive and a pick-up van.

In a statement in the gazette, Mr Mnangagwa said ex-presidents who have served at least one full term - a category that includes only Mr Mugabe - were also entitled to six security personnel and a fully furnished office.

It will include a landline telephone, mobile phone, two computers and other equipment to be determined by the new president.

He will be able to increase the number of security staff with permission from the government.

The extraordinary details of his pension settlement were published in the government gazette as the army chief who led the bloodless coup that ended Mr Mugabe's 37-year rule was installed as Zimbabwe's vice president on Thursday, becoming the most senior of a clutch of military figures to enter government.

Retired general Constantino Chiwenga's appearance on state television on November 15 preceded armed soldiers taking to the streets, paving the way for Emmerson Mnangagwa to become president hours later.

Mr Mnangagwa, a former chief lieutenant to Mr Mugabe who has promised to push through economic and political reforms, has steered clear of acts of retribution against the former president, handing him full diplomatic status and the pension settlement.