Zimbabwe’s veteran President Robert Mugabe lavishly celebrated his 83rd birthday on Saturday, with a warning to his opponents planning protests against a proposed extension to his rule.
”Misguided youth and, indeed, adults who believe in violence and vandalism should understand that no society can countenance these,” Mugabe said in a written speech to supporters gathered in a stadium in the south-western city of Gweru.
”Appropriate measures will always be taken to maintain law and order. This is a message we also send to the sponsors and instigators of the opposition,” he said.
Mugabe, Africa’s oldest leader, turned 83 on Wednesday, showered with praise and birthday wishes from his supporters, but facing mounting pressure to his regime over economic recession that has condemned most people in the former regional breadbasket to grinding poverty.
The party came just under a week after police used water cannons and tear gas to break up a rally planned by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the capital to launch a campaign against plans to extend Mugabe’s term in office by another two years.
Police arrested scores of opposition activists, including three lawmakers, and later banned political rallies and processions in Harare, saying there were fears they could degenerate into widespread rioting.
But Tsvangirai has vowed to ignore the ban, and in the second city of Bulawayo riot police were out in force on Saturday to block another planned opposition rally.
Mugabe also lashed out at ”unpatriotic” businesses, accusing them of working with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to foment unrest by exacerbating the country’s economic crisis.
”We gave you the opportunity to go into business, but some of you have joined hands with whites who are causing the economic crisis in order to push for regime change,” he charged. ”That’s the regime for Blair. But Blair will not cause regime change in Zimbabwe. He’s not Zimbabwean anyway.”
Held under the theme: ”Youth empowerment for a prosperous and peaceful Zimbabwe”, this year’s celebrations came against a bleak backdrop of inflation at nearly 1 600%, massive joblessness, and shortages of foodstuffs such as cooking oil, sugar and more recently bread.
The octogenarian ruler is facing unrest in the public sector with doctors on strike over poor pay, while civil servants are also contemplating a job boycott.
Mugabe had indicated he would step down at the expiry of his current term in 2008, but his ruling Zanu-PF last December passed a resolution to extend his term by another two years.
The resolution is yet to be approved by the party’s central committee, and the opposition has vowed to fight the plan vehemently, saying the country cannot afford two more years with Mugabe at the helm.
At least 10 000 people, many of them schoolchildren, packed the stadium in Gweru where they were treated to entertainment by traditional dancers, poets, school choirs and a martial band. Beer and meat was also available in abundance.
Mugabe waved a fist to loud cheers from supporters brandishing miniature flags as he walked into the stadium accompanied by his family.
Loyalists clad in multicoloured clothes with Mugabe’s portrait danced and ululated as the president took his place among ministers and senior government officials. He listened to speeches of good wishes and poems heaping praise on Mugabe as ”our liberator” and ”able leader”.
Supporters waved banners reading ”Zanu-PF Youth League Says Mugabe for 2010” and ”Mugabe is right”.
But in Gweru’s poor township of Mkoba, most residents were unmoved.” It’s no different from any day, so I will go ahead with my business,” said vendor Elina Masumhe, standing behind a makeshift vegetable stall.
Mugabe, the last of the 1960s nationalists still in power in Southern Africa, blames external foes, notably former colonial power Britain, and weather conditions for his country’s plight. — Sapa-AFP