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Kuda Bwititi in LUANDA, Angola 

President Mnangagwa put in a full day shift on duty on his 80th birthday yesterday as he joined other leaders at the inauguration of Angola’s President, Joao Lourenco in Luanda, before he returned home late last night.

The President returned home just after 10pm and was welcomed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe (RGM) International Airport by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, senior Government officials and service chiefs.

Prior to his departure from Luanda, the Zimbabwean delegation that accompanied him home presented him with a cake emblazoned with the national flag and sang a birthday song for him as he entered the plane.

The welcoming party at RGM International Airport also sang a birthday song for him. 

President Mnangagwa is welcomed by Angolan Minister of External Relations Cde Tete Antonio at Qoatro de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda, Angola recently — Picture: Tawanda Mudimu

In brief remarks to journalists soon after his return, President Mnangagwa said he was grateful to have reached the octogenarian milestone.  

“I don’t feel any difference between yesterday and today. But of course one feels that at 80, one must be grateful that the Lord has kept you up to that level. So, I am very happy, and I feel very good to continue working,” he said.

Asked about President Lourenco’s inauguration, President Mnangagwa said: “It went very well, it was very well prepared, well organised, well attended and there was a military display that was most impressive.”

At President Lourenco’s inauguration, President Mnangagwa was joined by about 12 other Heads of State from Portugal, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Saharawi Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Namibia.

President Lourenco, 68, was sworn in alongside his Vice President Esperanca da Costa, the nation’s first female VP. 

In his inauguration speech that he delivered in Portuguese, President Lourenco rallied for unity in his oil-rich country, pledging to be “a President for all Angolans” regardless of their political affiliation.

He also promised to grow the economy and improve the welfare of all citizens.

The glamourous event, which was held at the Praca de Republica Square in Luanda was attended by thousands of invited guests.

Many members of the crowd waved flags and screamed President Lourenco’s name to celebrate his inauguration for his second term in office. 

The ceremony took place at the picturesque 120-metre high rocket-shaped monument that marks the final resting place of the nation’s first president, Antonio Agostinho Neto and his successor Eduardo dos Santos.

Since assuming office in November 2017, President Mnangagwa has been known to put in a punishing work ethic in fulfilment of his vision to make Zimbabwe an upper middle income economy by 2030. His dedication to duty was apparent even on his birthday.