Robert Mugabe thanks God for long life
2013-02-21 07:41
Harare - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said Wednesday on
the eve of his 89th birthday he owed his long life to God and revealed that he
suffers loneliness from the loss of friends and relatives.
"It's him, our creator, who is responsible for the fact
that I am 89," Mugabe told guests at a party at state house hosted by his
staff ahead of his birthday on Thursday.
"When you get to that stage, you can't avoid that
yesterday when I was younger we were many. All my friends have gone. Also,
relatives are gone and I continue to linger on," he added.
The party was attended by government ministers, security
chiefs and staff from his office.
Chief secretary Misheck Sibanda presented Mugabe with a cake
with a cockerel design and read a message on behalf of staff wishing the
veteran leader many more years.
Guests were treated to music by the police brass band and
gospel musician Shingisai Siluma who played songs requested by Mugabe.
Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is
one of Africa's longest ruling leaders. He has accepted nomination by his Zanu-PF
party to run in the presidential race this year.
His health has been the subject of much speculation,
especially since WikiLeaks released a 2008 diplomatic cable saying central bank
chief Gideon Gono had told then US ambassador James McGee that Mugabe had
prostate cancer, and had been advised by doctors he had less than five years to
live.
A public rally to celebrate his birthday will be held at a
stadium in the mining town of Bindura on March 2, where festivities will
include a concert featuring the country's top musicians.
- AFP
