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By:
Reuters | |||||||||
| Posted:
Feb,28-2016 15:16:50
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President Robert Mugabe marked his 92nd birthday at a nearly $1 million party organized by supporters on Saturday, drawing criticism from opponents who said the celebrations in a drought-stricken area were an affront to ordinary Zimbabweans. Africa's oldest leader, Mugabe turned 92 on Feb. 21 and shows no intention of stepping down, much to the frustration of feuding members of his ruling ZANU-PF party who have been long trying to position themselves for his succession. Thousands of party supporters gathered next to the Great Zimbabwe ruins to pay tribute to Mugabe, the country's only leader since independence from Britain in 1980. Mugabe, who was accompanied by his wife, Grace, and their children, released 92 balloons and sat listening to poetry readings, songs and chants by supporters hailing him as an African icon and a visionary. A giant cake made to look like the ancient ruins for which Zimbabwe is named was set out in a nearby marquee. School children, foreign diplomats, government ministers and security chiefs were also present.
Pupurai Togarepi, ZANU-PF's youth leader said 50,000 people were expected to attend and defended spending $800,000 on the birthday celebrations.
"Money is not the issue here. You cannot put a price on the contribution of President Mugabe to the history and development of this nation. All these things are worth more than money," Togarepi told Reuters.
Mugabe's lavish birthday parties have become an annual pilgrimage for loyalists and those seeking favours from the veteran leader, but this year's celebration in the drought-battered Masvingo province proved particularly controversial.
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