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President Mugabe

Nduduzo Tshuma Political Editor
PRESIDENT Mugabe turns 91 years today with his Zanu-PF party paying tribute to him for striving to meet the people’s aspirations and fulfilling his promises especially returning the land to the majority.

Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said the party joined the nation in congratulating President Mugabe for attaining 91 years.

“The Zanu-PF party wishes to congratulate President Robert Mugabe for turning 91. Given the rarity of this achievement, we believe that this is the best evidence yet that his leadership is indeed the will of the Almighty God. We wish him many more and look forward to more years of his extraordinary stewardship,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“This is a special day not only for the first family but to all patriotic and peace loving Zimbabweans. Our President has lived a purposeful, principled and rewarding life.

“His attributes must be emulated by everyone particularly the young people. He is not only an outstanding liberation icon but a visionary gifted also with impeccable intellectual. He is a man who always leads from the front. The President has virtually fulfilled most of his promises which include returning the land to its rightful owners.”

Cde Khaya Moyo said the party applauded President Mugabe for sound leadership.

“We wish him many more happy returns and his legacy lives forever. The best gift we can offer him is unity, peace and development,” he said.

Cde Khaya Moyo said this year’s celebrations were unique in that they came barely weeks after President Mugabe’s election as AU chairman and during his tenure as Sadc chairperson.

“It’s for this reason that we and indeed all Zimbabweans are looking forward to the successful hosting of the 21st February Movement celebrations in Victoria Falls next weekend. The celebrations have been held consistently since 1986 under the auspices of the ZANU-PF Youth League in his honour,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

He said celebrations would afford the young with a golden opportunity to reflect on the leadership of this iconic figure who is not only appreciated in Zimbabwe but is also cherished across the African continent as amply demonstrated by his election recently to lead both the Sadc and AU.

“President Mugabe has done remarkable work not just in respect of our liberation (of which every Zimbabwean, including our brothers and sisters in the opposition, is a beneficiary) but also in terms of capably leading government since independence,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

He said President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations are always sponsored by patriotic Zimbabweans and never by government contrary to claims by the opposition.

“The suggestion that public funds were used to sponsor this year’s celebrations is therefore unfounded. It has also been suggested by those with fertile imaginations in the MDC and western media that this year’s sponsors have been able to raise $1 million,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“Firstly, it goes without saying that President Mugabe’s remarkable leadership is priceless, so much so that, even if our sponsors were able to raise trillions of dollars to celebrate his iconic leadership, that would still be inadequate to show our appreciation for this extraordinary and amazing man.

“This is a desperate attempt by our detractors to smear the good name of our President. But as recent events have shown, no amount of propaganda will stop the people of Africa in general and Zimbabweans in particular from idolising this special man.

“We feel it’s the least we can do in the circumstances and we shall continue to do so animatedly, unashamedly and unapologetically.”