Lavish parties planned as Zimbabwe’s Mugabe turns 92

The world’s oldest leader, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is set to host lavish celebrations to mark his 92nd birthday at a time of severe drought and increasing friction over his succession. Tens of thousands of party loyalists, officials and members of the public attended a day of concerts, street parades and parties in Masvingo in […]

The world’s oldest leader, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is set to host lavish celebrations to mark his 92nd birthday at a time of severe drought and increasing friction over his succession.
Tens of thousands of party loyalists, officials and members of the public attended a day of concerts, street parades and parties in Masvingo in the South-east of the country on Saturday.
“Organisers have been working flat-out to ensure the celebrations are a success,” Simon Khaya-Moyo, spokesman for the ruling ZANU-PF party told the AFP news agency. “Everything is in place and we are looking forward to tremendous events,” he said. The scale of the celebrations, costing a reported $800,000, attracts annual controversy in Zimbabwe, which recently declared a “state of disaster” due to the drought and widespread food shortages.