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“Considering that I married . . . my second marriage when I was in the 70s, I had no hope that I will see my children grow old like this. As a family, when you have a child in the family, you will be afraid whether she will succeed or not, you will be taking care from childhood, going to school and now old enough to start a family.”
These were President Mugabe’s words in an interview with ZBC ahead of his 90th birthday this year.
What is truly remarkable, as the President indicated himself in that interview, is that his daughter, Miss Bona Mugabe, was born when he was at an age that very few people even reach.
That he not only saw her grow into a woman, graduate with a Masters degree recently, and then wed today, is the stuff of fairytales.
But it is no fairytale.
It is not by accident that President Mugabe is 90-years-old this year and is still more astute than those people who spend day and night trying to topple him from the Presidency.
In an interview before his 88th birthday, the President said he exercised for one hour — waking up at 5am — every day.
“God looks after us but there is a portion we must play. You must eat well, you take some vegetables, but don’t over-eat beef, it’s dangerous, eventually you will suffer from gout . . .
“My advice is don’t drink.
“If you want to drink, don’t drink too much but I would say don’t drink at all, and don’t smoke at all.
“When you smoke, the nicotine goes to your lungs; it’s a sure case that your lungs are inhaling.
“Look after yourself.
“Girlfriends, when you are young you want two or three girlfriends, but you finally make a choice.
“Little houses, some little houses are dangerous these days.
“There is HIV, I have seen youngsters in the extended families just going one after another.
“They left orphans, we are having to look after them.”
On turning 89 last year, President Mugabe repeated the same admonishments and shared other tips for a healthy and long life.
“People should go to the doctors and have medical check-ups constantly maybe every month but not more than six months, as you must have checked up on your blood pressure, heart condition, etc.
“Kufa kunofiwa asi zvimwe zvirwere zvinogona kudzivirirwa if you have constant medical check-ups. You can ask Dr (David) Parirenyatyatwa, he can confirm it.
“Inini, I get up at 5 o’clock in the morning and I do some exercises and I also go to the doctor for medical check-ups.
“Let’s have medical check-ups. The flesh and muscle might be weak because of age and if you allow yourself to be lazy unotochembera.”
It is all simple stuff, these things that can add years and quality to all our lives.
Healthy living is also good on the pocket. Vegetables are cheaper than meat (not saying that we should not eat meat), exercise such as walking or jogging, and garden work does not cost a thing, abstaining — or minimising — alcohol intake saves money, and sticking to one sexual partner certainly does not harm one’s bank balance.
There is another interesting thing that has emerged from today’s big wedding and how we can live our lives much better.
First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, the proud mother of the bride, has said: “They (Miss Bona Mugabe and Mr Simba Chikore, the groom) developed a relationship and I told my daughter I am going to bring you up the traditional way.
“Do not ever let that boy touch your breast or your body you must have the honour to get married when you are still a virgin.
“She has listened to me and I spoke to Simba and I told him that I want my daughter to get married when she is still a virgin and he respects that. You make me proud and I am a proud mother.”
In these days of HIV and other illnesses, the importance of abstinence and faithfulness to one sexual partner can never be over-estimated.
Online Reporter