‘I feel very young and very strong’

Emmanuel Kafe, Harare Bureau

“I DON’T count my age; others count them for me…and I feel very young and very strong. What I was doing 10 years ago, I still do today. Some of you have your age in your mind, but not with me,” said President Mnangagwa to journalists last week when asked about the secret behind his thriving Precabe Farm in Kwekwe, ahead of his 82nd birthday today.

President Mnangagwa was born on September 15, 1942.

Yesterday, congratulatory birthday messages had started pouring in, with the President being extolled for his wisdom, guidance and leadership, which has set Zimbabwe on a path of “unprecedented economic modernisation and transformation”.

In his message yesterday, Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said the nation was gratified by the milestone, as President Mnangagwa had continued to lead and guide the ruling Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe “with unparalleled distinction”.

“On behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, my office, my family and, indeed, my own behalf, I would like to congratulate the First Secretary of Zanu-PF and the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, on his 82nd birthday on September 15, 2024.

“Your Excellency, we are gratified by this milestone as you continue to lead and guide our revolutionary party and our great nation with unparalleled distinction,” said VP Chiwenga.

Under the President’s leadership, he added, the country had witnessed massive infrastructure development and the stabilisation of the economy.

“The nation has witnessed unprecedented economic modernisation and transformation, characterised by massive infrastructural development and stabilisation of the economy in our common goal to accelerate the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income economy by 2030. We undertake to emulate your exemplary leadership in our endeavours to deliver broad-based and inclusive quality service to the people of Zimbabwe, leaving no one and no place behind.”

He also said the country is confident that the President, as the new chairperson of the Southern African Development Community, will lead the regional bloc towards integration and prosperity, especially considering his record of robust and visionary leadership.

“Allow me, once again, to congratulate you, Shumba Murambwi, and the First Family on your birthday. We pray that the Lord grants you many more years as you lead our great nation from the front…,” added VP Chiwenga.

Vice-President Kembo Mohadi said President Mnangagwa’s continued good works will benefit all Zimbabweans.

“The Honourable Vice-President, KCD Mohadi, joins the nation in congratulating his Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for a happy birthday,” said a statement from his office.

“May the Almighty grant you more years to continue with the good work for the benefit of us all.”

The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services said President Mnangagwa was “a living parable of diligence, hard work, virtue and honour”.

“Inspired by his revolutionary credence, we pay homage to his contribution to the foundational architecture of our State in early independence. 

“His pro-people leadership track record in various tasks he undertook prior to his deserved appointment as Vice-President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in 2014 is worth emulating,” said the ministry in a statement.

“Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa is a living parable of diligence, hard work, virtue and honour. Therefore, the celebration of his birthday is symbolic of how we cherish his tangible lifelong exploits to national independence, the ferocious protection of national sovereignty, poverty eradication and creation of a just society for all.”

The President’s leading role in the nationalist renaissance that gave birth to the Second Republic, the ministry added, is evidence of his adherence to the preservation of the country’s enduring liberation values.

“The innumerable political reforms and socio-economic transformation under his leadership are a justified cause for his 82nd birthday celebration to be given national prominence.

“Further to this, the vision of an upper middle-class economy by 2030, finds safety in the palms of his patriotic zeal for a better Zimbabwe.”