President Robert Mugabe faced with a fast failing economy, is preparing to celebrate his birthday where several elephants are to be slaughtered. Mugabe joked saying he is happy to reach the age of 91.
Answering a question from the Jonathan Moyo controlled media on his birthday message in Pretoria, South Africa, where he chaired the Extraordinary SADC Double Troika Summit on Lesotho, Mugabe had delegates in stitches when he threw some jokes.
He jokingly said he had forgotten about his birthday and that he imagines how many tonnes of sugar he has taken in the 91 years.
“I have had a lion’s share, I am sure,” he said. “But seriously, I am happy I am that age. I am happy God has looked after me. And I am happy also that my relatives, my friends and they include of course political friends who have assisted us in the struggle, South Africa included, have made me happier that I have seen my country become an independent one.
“I have also seen my country also going to the assistance of others which had not become independent and ensuring that they got their independence. But when all is said and done, I said to the good Lord, thanks for giving me this long life.”
There was a round of applause from the floor after President Mugabe finished speaking.
President Mugabe will celebrate his birthday in Victoria Falls next Saturday at a colourful function that will coincide with the 29th edition of the 21st February Movement.
The 21st February Movement was inaugurated in 1986 under the auspices of the Zanu-PF Youth League to encourage Zimbabweans, particularly youths to emulate President Mugabe’s revolutionary ideas, charismatic leadership and selfless policies.
As of yesterday, congratulatory messages were already streaming in from organs of Zanu-PF and ordinary Zimbabweans, wishing the President more years of good health and wise leadership.
In a statement, Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, hailed President Mugabe not only for his exceptional role in the liberation of Zimbabwe, but his remarkable work in post independence era.
“Given the rarity of this achievement, we believe that this is the best evidence yet that his leadership is indeed the will of the Almighty God,” he said.
“We wish him many more and look forward to more years of his extraordinary stewardship.
“President Mugabe has done remarkable work not just in respect of our liberation (of which every Zimbabwean, including our brothers and sisters in the opposition, is a beneficiary) but also in terms of capably leading Government since independence.”
He said the 21st February Movement celebrations next weekend would afford the young people a golden opportunity to reflect on the leadership of President Mugabe who was not only appreciated in Zimbabwe but also cherished the entire world as amply demonstrated by his election recently to lead both the SADC and AU.
“It is trite that President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations are always sponsored by patriotic Zimbabweans and never by Government. The suggestion that public funds were used to sponsor this year’s celebrations is therefore unfounded,” he said.
Khaya Moyo said desperate attempts by MDC formations with the backing of the grovelling Western media that President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations would gobble US$1 million were useless smear campaign that would not stop the people of Africa in general and Zimbabweans in particular from idolising this special man.
The Zanu-PF Youth League, which is organising the 21st February Movement celebrations, said it was elated that President Mugabe had achieved a rare feat in life.
The league’s deputy secretary Kudzai Chipanga, said this year’s celebrations of the 21st February Movement, were unique because they were also coming at a time when President Mugabe had been crowned the Sadc and Africa Union chairman.-State Media