Mugabe rejects birthday bash offer

Mugabe rejects birthday bash offer

Source: Mugabe rejects birthday bash offer – NewsDay Zimbabwe February 22, 2018

Former President Robert Mugabe yesterday reportedly turned down a public birthday bash organised for him by the Zanu PF youth league, opting to privately celebrate his 94th anniversary with his close family members.

BY XOLISANI NCUBE/ DESMOND CHINGARANDE

The Zanu PF youth league had approached his family with a proposal to have a mini-party for its former leader, who was removed from power in November last year following a military intervention.

According to sources, Mugabe refused to be treated to a mini-bash by the Zanu PF youth league due to the manner his party and the military treated him before his resignation.

“He wants to be with his family and those who love him genuinely and not those who want to abuse his name for political gains,” a close family member, said.

“The family would want to hold the birthday party for our old man, as a private event. But critically, what business does the party have for a man they removed in the manner they did?”

Born on February 21, 1924, Mugabe trained as a teacher and taught in then Rhodesia and Ghana before returning home to join the guerrilla war against white-minority rule.

He became prime minister after Zimbabwe attained independence from Britain in 1980. He later became president in 1987.

Zanu PF youth secretary, Pupurai Togarepi, confirmed yesterday that there was no bash at Mugabe’s residence, as they had anticipated. Togarepi said instead, the youth would still celebrate their former leaders’ legacy through charitable works.

“We are only celebrating Robert Mugabe Youth Day. As for a birthday celebration, it’s a private function, which is confidential for me to give you a programme,” he said. The youth league last week indicated a delegation would visit Mugabe at his private residence in Borrowdale Brooke to give a birthday treat to the 94-year-old icon.

Had it not been for the military action in November, this year’s birthday bash for Mugabe would have been held in Nyanga, hosted under the auspices of the 21st February Movement.

The Zanu PF youth league, then under the leadership of Kudzanayi Chipanga, who has since been expelled, was already mobilising resources when Mugabe was forced to resign.

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 1
  • comment-avatar
    Mapingu 6 years ago

    So, where are those resources mobilised Chipanga & his rogue elements. Have they returned those so-called “gifts” to those who reluctantly parted with their valuables? As usual they have not done so; and I can bet they have already abused those forcibly extracted birthday offerings. We all know that most companies & individual have always been forced to sponsor former first family and zanu pf events under duress. Now that this 2018 Mugabe bash did not happen surely those who parted with their cash & kind under duress must be given their things back. This calls for ZACC to get into action on this one if they had not yet started. Yes, its common cause that if one fundraises for particular cause which then fails to happen then mobilized resources must be returned not pocketed by fundraisers; or at least transparently channeled to another worthwhile cause by mutual agreement with those who contributed in the first place. This has not happened – so Chipanga & co pocketed the money. Isn’t it???? What is that called then – theft, corruption or both?