MUGABE’s 92nd BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS PEGGED AT $800 000 (MK556 MILLION)

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party is reportedly planning to splash out at least $800 000 on President Robert Mugabe’s 92nd birthday bash which is equivalent to MK556 million.

This year’s nonagenarian’s birthday celebrations are scheduled to take place in the drought stricken Masvingo province at Mucheke Stadium on February 28, reports NewsDay.

Party insiders revealed that the celebrations required at least $770 000, with Masvingo province expected to raise at least $100 000 for the annual bash.

The country’s other nine provinces would have to fork out $30 000 apiece to help with the preparations, while the national team headed by Zanu-PF Youth League Secretary Pupurayi Togarepi, would be expected to raise at least $400 000, the report said.

The organisers, the February 21 movement – a group established in 1986 to encourage Zimbabwean youths to emulate Mugabe’s “selfless character and leadership qualities” – vowed last week that it would pull all stop to make this year’s celebrations the biggest of the all.

“We’ve already started and as we speak we’re in the middle of preparing for the big event, we’ve already identified the venue and its Mucheke stadium,” ruling Zanu- PF Masvingo provincial chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira, was quoted as saying.

Mugabe is known for hosting lavish birthday bashes, despite the southern African country having economic problems.

For his 91st birthday celebrations last year, Mugabe spent at least $1 m, with various businesses and prominent people donating for the bash.

Mugabe turns 92 on February 21.