The mother of all parties

Felex Share in Masvingo

A birthday celebration with a difference!

These words can aptly sum up yesterday’s activities as thousands of people joined President Mugabe in celebrating his 92nd birthday at Great Zimbabwe Monument.

President Mugabe turned 92 on February 21, 2016.

From ordinary villagers to Cabinet Ministers and diplomats – all thronged the historic monuments for the festivities.

And what a terrific event it turned out to be, contrary to reportage by private newspapers that anticipated bloody running battles to rock the ancient city, from which the country derives its name.

There had been an intense speculation in the build up to the event with some sections of the media reporting that the so-called factions in the party were fighting over control of proceedings.

Some reports also suggested that there were plans to sabotage the event and some seniors members of the revolutionary party, Zanu-PF were going to be heckled.

But a huge turnout which was witnessed at the event – held just a spitting distance from the monuments from which a succession of successful old kingdoms were governed – could have left the peddlers with the proverbial egg on the face.

Thousands of ordinary villagers and party supporters, drawn from the country’s 10 provinces, had to brave contrasting extreme weather conditions to be at the venue.

They had to first race to the venue sweating in the energy sapping heat that characterised the morning before enduring the heavy rains that came at mid-day.

But neither the heat nor the torrents could dampen the spirit of the multitudes who came to celebrate the day of the African icon, admired by many.

The choice of the venue – the fort at Great Zimbabwe – was ideal for the big event.

President Mugabe also spoke highly of the setting, describing the monuments as “majestic”.

“The venue selected for the celebrations, our majestic Great Zimbabwe monuments whose African origins imperialists wished so much to denigrate is itself iconic for the African people as a whole,” he said.

“The monuments, from which we derive the name of our beloved and beautiful country is rock solid as you can see and unshakable, typifying the ideals of Pan-Africanism.”

Speaking on how special the venue was, the Zanu-PF Youth League in one of their presentations said: “For one to celebrate his birthday at these monuments, one has to be 92, one has to be a founding father of the African Union and one has to be a bookworm.”

An assortment of carefully chosen entertainers comprising of gifted poets, traditional dancers, local musicians and brass bands also worked to keep the smiles on the faces of the crowds all day long.

The melodic sounds they produced reverberated in the surrounding hillocks.

Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi’s Zion Christian Church brass band excited delegates with a performance that could have drawn the great Munhumutapa kings of yore to the dance floor.

The performance sure had Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko and their spouses, as well as First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, responding to the beat with a small dance.

The President was nodding and smiling throughout.

The Zanu-PF Youth League, which organised the event, spiced it by bringing in some of the liberation war icons who were once with President Mugabe in prison during the liberation struggle.

The veterans of the struggle were pleased to meet the President as memories of another time were rekindled after hearty embraces.

Representatives of sister liberation movements were also present and showered praises on the President, eulogising his contribution to Sadc and Africa’s development.