Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attended his daughter's university graduation in Hong Kong, the southern Chinese city which is outside Western-imposed travel bans, media reports said Wednesday.

The veteran leader who is accused of widespread human rights abuses in his country thanked the Hong Kong authorities for protecting Bona Mugabe, 22, from the media spotlight during her studies, the South China Morning Post reported.

Bona, who has lived in Hong Kong for several years, received an accounting degree from City University, the report said.

University spokeswoman Karen Cheng told the newspaper that Mugabe, 87, took photos "like any other parent" during the ceremony.

Zimbabwean media reported that the president praised Hong Kong authorities for keeping journalists away from his daughter.

Bona's bodyguards twice assaulted reporters outside her Hong Kong home in 2009 but no action was taken against them.

Last year Mugabe reportedly spent a weekend shopping for high-end suits and shoes in Hong Kong, where he also owns a house.

Hong Kong police gave the Zimbabwean protection as he visited luxury shops in the city's Kowloon district.

China is not a party to international sanctions on Mugabe, who is the subject of a Western travel ban and asset freeze.

Mugabe's wife Grace sparked a diplomatic row last year when she escaped assault charges after allegedly striking a British photographer as he took her picture during a Hong Kong shopping trip.

Hong Kong's justice department said she was entitled to diplomatic immunity.

Mugabe has previously thanked China for its support in helping his nation rebuild its shattered economy, especially the supply of agricultural materials and food assistance.

Once a breadbasket of southern Africa, Zimbabwe has suffered food shortages due to drought and Mugabe's crippling land-reform programme.

Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, also makes regular visits to Singapore, reportedly for medical treatment.

According to the WikiLeaks whistleblower website, Mugabe has prostate cancer which has metastasized and he may only have a couple of years to live. He has denied the reports.