Cake and elly steak for Mugabe’s ‘obscene jamboree’

Extravagant and chaotic affair as Zimbabwe’s ruler’s party goes over the top at Victoria Falls

AMID the yoghurt snacks and four giant cakes— one of which was a copy of his face — Zimbabwe’s eccentric leader Robert Mugabe celebrated his birthday yesterday by taking pot shots at the opposition and whites.

Addressing the large crowd that attended the party at an exclusive Victoria Falls resort, Mugabe encouraged Zimbabwe’s youth to shun corruption and to work for themselves instead of seeking jobs.

The country, where unemployment is running at about 80%, is struggling with an economic crisis which Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party says is the result of sanctions imposed by Western governments.

The 91-year-old president arrived at yesterday’s event — part of a multimillion-rand birthday bash — just before noon and walked unaided, although his wife Grace carefully clutched his hand at one point.

“I want you to believe that you can do things on your own,” he said in his speech.

“We don’t need the white people; we are well equipped with skills now but we lack skills in organising and forming companies.”

He accused former vice- president Joice Mujuru of having invited witchdoctors from Nigeria to try to force him from office.

Other ousted ministers, he claimed, had pillaged money.

Mugabe, who turned 91 on February 21, said in a televised interview earlier this week that the secret to longevity was “eating less”.

But this did not stop him or his guests from tucking in voraciously this weekend. As promised, two elephants were slaughtered to help to feed the wealthy guests, many of whom paid as much as $10 000 (about R116 000) for a table at a banquet on Friday night.

This weekend’s party, largely bankrolled by private businessmen, has again sparked controversy in a country which has faced massive food shortages in recent years.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change labelled it an “obscene jamboree”.

“All the money that has been collected . . . should be channelled towards rehabilitating the collapsed public hospitals, clinics and rural schools in Matabeleland North province,” MDC spokesman Obert Gutu said, referring to the province in which Victoria Falls lies.

A STATE motorcade spanning nearly two kilometres, a lavish dinner that set attendees back $10 000 a table and cash donations by South Africanowned companies — Mimosa and Zimplats — marked the lavish start to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations in the resort town of Victoria Falls. He turned 91 on February 21. The birthday boy touched down at Victoria Falls Airport just after 5pm on Friday and arrived in Victoria Falls town about an hour later. His entourage brought the town to a halt, with police manning every intersection en route.

Mugabe’s admission, in a radio interview, that his government’s farms policy had not succeeded, did little to dampen the party atmosphere.

The president’s arrival was preceded by chaotic organisation ahead of the dinner on Friday and the big bash yesterday.

The accreditation process for delegates and journalists was chaotic, with overzealous officials manhandling anyone who complained.

Some of those who paid to attend the dinner, but arrived late, were turned away because seating had run out.

“I am happy with the turnout for the dinner. We could have done it better, but it has been oversubscribed,” said Sarah Mahoka, an MP and member of the organising committee.

VIPs turned up in a seemingly endless flow of luxury vehicles. Mugabe’s deputies, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, arrived at about 8pm for the dinner.

Mimosa’s managing director, Winston Chitando, casually strolled over to where the two vice presidents were seated and greeted them.

It’s not surprising that he felt at home. His company, jointly owned by Implats and Aquarius Platinum, donated $10 000 towards the event despite tight cost-cutting measures at its operation.

“I can’t comment today,” Chitando said when approached by journalists.

Zimplats, a company controlled by Implats, donated $7 500 to the bash.

Other donors were the telecom groups Econet Wireless ($10 000), NetOne ($10 000) and Telecel Zimbabwe ($2 500).

Mugabe was accompanied by his wife Grace, who clutched his hand as he arrived for dinner. He was dressed in a black, three-button suit with blue-andwhite dotted tie.

Grace wore a blue, green and black floral dress with gold earrings and a matching necklace.

She complemented the florets on her dress with a pink dinner purse.

Mugabe’s aides appeared overly cautious, which is hardly surprising given that they were reportedly chastised for not keeping a close eye on the president when he stumbled and fell at the Harare International Airport a few weeks ago.

Tendai Musasa, a Victoria Falls game farmer, confirmed that he had donated two elephants and two buffalo to the bash but claimed: “We don’t just shoot elephants, we shoot those that are problem animals.”

However, most of the ministers present — including transport minister, Obert Mpofu, who donated $40 000 towards Mugabe’s event, and environment minister Saviour Kasukuwere — went for vegetarian and traditional dishes.

Kasukuwere, who is political

BOB AND GRACE: The presidential couple arrive dressed to the nines for Robert Mugabe’s birthday party commissar of Mugabe’s Zanu PF, said the festivities were in celebration of a man who liberated Zimbabwe and that the party was stronger after last year’s expulsions of members aligned to former vice president Joice Mujuru.

“People are genuine about their love for the president. You don’t get this kind of happiness and joy every day,” Kasukuwere said.

It was an expensive dinner, organised by a committee largely made up of officials from Mugabe’s office.

A table for 10 people cost $10 000 and state and private companies jostled to snap up their places.

The décor was all about the glitz, with all-white table cloths and chair bags as well as beige- and-white linen back-drops against matching tinted lights.

Companies that attended included the banking group CBZ, Schweppes, National Roads, Mbada Diamonds and Botswana’s Choppies Supermarkets, whose Zimbabwean chairman was Phelekezela Mphoko before his appointment as one of Mugabe’s two deputies.

Journalists representing foreign media were asked to leave the event, but the Sunday Times managed to slip back in after 45 minutes.

This was just in time to see Mugabe standing up and clapping to a song by Shingisai Suluma, a gospel musician.

In an interview with state broadcaster ZBC on Thursday, Mugabe made a surprising admission about the failures of his government’s controversial land reform policy.

“I think the farms we gave to people are too large. They can’t manage them,” he said.

Previously the president had insisted that unusual weather patterns and Western sanctions were to blame for poor agricultural productivity.

You don’t get this kind of happiness and joy every day Those who paid to attend, but arrived late, were turned away as seating had run out