Zimbabwe: Mugabe celebrates 93rd birthday, pledges to remain in power

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, celebrated his 93rd birthday on saturday by pledging to remain in power despite growing sings of frailty. Mugabe one of African longest serving leaders in an interview with state television ZBC-TV also commended President Donald Trump of America brand of nationalism.

“When it comes to Donald Trump, on the one hand talking of American nationalism … America for Americans … on that we agree: Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans,” he said.

Mugabe said he hoped that Trump might review the sanction imposed on the Southern African country by America and its allies in 2003 over alleged violations of human rights and vote rigging.

“We are just now under sanctions imposed not by Donald Trump, but by Obama. What arrogance is that?” he said.

He further disclosed that he never wanted Hillary Clinton to make it to the white house.

Critics have accused Mugabe of putting Africa’s most promising economies, Zimbabwe into a serious financial mess through wrong policies such as the collection of farm lands from white minority in the country and printing of currency.

He has also been accused of holding on to power illegally through repression.

A large celebration was held on Saturday in tribute to Mugabe, who has ruled the country since independence from the white minority rule in 1980.

The president celebrated his 93rd birthday with a lavish party attended by thousands of loyalists outside the second city of Bulawayo.

The annual party cost up to $1 million (0.9 million euros) including a multi-course feast and vast birthday cakes, putting many Zimbabweans in a state of aggression as the country endures severe food shortages.

Holding the event at a school in Matobo has also riled locals as it is close to where many victims of Mugabe’s deadly crackdown on dissidents in the early 1980s are thought to be buried.

According to rights groups, at least 20,000 people are believed to have been killed in the massacres by North Korean-trained Zimbabwean troops.

“This should not be a place for celebration, “The whole area is a crime scene where the bones of victims of the massacres are buried.” Mbuso Fuzwayo, spokesman for the Bulawayo-based campaign group Ibhetshu Likazulu, told AFP.

President Mugabe's 93rd birthday bash has begun-Speakers say he'll rule till he dies. Watch live:https://t.co/AfnSFnaGvv
(Image harumutasa) pic.twitter.com/Oxy98I3ayF

— Samira Sawlani (samirasawlani) February 25, 2017

His wife Grace has consistently defended the husband against critics who insist it is time for the president to relinquish power and step down.