Mugabe celebrates 92nd birthday amid party infighting

ZIMBABWE, Sunday

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe today blamed foreign interference for the infighting and succession battles plaguing his party as the world’s oldest leader celebrated his 92nd birthday at a lavish affair.

Thousands of party loyalists, foreign representatives and members of the public watched as President Mugabe released 92 balloons in the air, with songs and ululations ringing out around him.

Several cakes were on display at the public festivities Saturday, one in the shape of Africa, another a whopping 92-kilogram replica of the party venue: the Great Zimbabwe ruins, a UNESCO world heritage site built in the 13th Century as the headquarters of the Munhumutapa empire.

Balloons and cake, however, did little to hide the infighting that has defined the ruling ZANU-PF party in the last year as Mugabe continues to avoided naming a successor, despite his advanced age and recent speculation over his health.

Mr Mugabe, who turned 92 last Sunday, has ruled for 36 years during an era marked by vote-rigging, mass emigration, accusations of human rights abuses and economic decline.

On his actual birthday, state media poured praise on his leadership since independence from Britain.

In its 16-page special supplement, the Sunday Mail said on its front cover: “Thank You Bob, We now have a voice, since 1980”.

GROWING RIVALRY

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is viewed as the likely next president, but in recent weeks he has been publicly criticised by Mugabe’s wife Grace in a sign of growing rivalry.

“Factionalism, factionalism and, I repeat, factionalism has no place at all in our party,” Mr Mugabe told guests including senior party officials, government ministers, foreign diplomats and representatives of ruling parties from Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania.

“It should never be allowed to exist... We should remain united and use proper channels to solve our differences.”

The long-time leader also used the opportunity to launch into a characteristic attack on the West.

IN THEIR CUNNING WAYS

“The British and American in their cunning ways, as usual, have also utilised such opportunities to offer huge sums of money to individuals both within and outside the party to cause factionalism which has greatly affected the youth especially as of the recent past,” he said.

The scale of the celebrations, costing a reported $800,000 (Sh81m) this year, attracts annual controversy in Zimbabwe, which recently declared a “state of disaster” due to an ongoing regional drought and widespread food shortages.

“There is very little to celebrate for a 92-year-old who has presided over the collapse of the economy, reducing the country to a nation of vendors and beggars,” Mr Takavafira Zhou, a political analyst at Masvingo State University, told AFP.

Zimbabwe has suffered a series of food crises and hyper-inflation since Mugabe’s land reforms when farms were seized from white farmers for redistribution.

On Tuesday, scores of young supporters from the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party staged a protest in Masvingo.

Protest placards read: “No birthday when children are starving” and “We want jobs, not bashes.”

Local media reported that party activists ordered teachers and villagers in the rural districts of Masvingo to make cash donations to help pay for this year’s celebrations.

Mr Mugabe’s party has of late been rocked by intense infighting by factions vying to succeed him, one reportedly led by Vice President Mnangagwa and another by a younger generation of leaders going by the name G40.

 He also reminded ambitious party leaders that positions of authority are not obtained through insulting and denigrating each other but through election by the people.  

“There is only one way to any position in the party. It is the way of the people. You must be chosen by the people,” he said.

 Earlier, Mr Mugabe let 92 balloons into the air to mark the start of the celebrations held at the historical Great Zimbabwe Monuments, a UNESCO world heritage site that was built in the 13th Century and from where Zimbabwe derives its name.

The veteran leader was treated to cake after his speech while officials said cattle and wild game had been slaughtered for the feast.