Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe celebrate his 83rd birthday next week
Posted on 02/12/2007 10:35:02 AM PST by Stoat
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe celebrate his 83rd birthday next week
Supporters of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe have launched a drive to raise £600,000 to celebrate his 83rd birthday next week amid the country's worst-ever economic crisis.
Critics say the money would be better spent on salaries for impoverished teachers, nurses and doctors, who have been on strike.
Lavish celebrations are due to be held in the central town of Gweru on February 24, three days after the long-time Zimbabwean leader turns 83.
The fund-raising is being spearheaded by the 21st February Movement, a youth organization set up in 1986 to raise money for the president's annual birthday celebrations, according to the state-controlled Herald newspaper.
"We are looking forward for a big day for the youths to share some very important moments with his Excellency the president," Absalom Sikosana, the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front secretary for youth told the newspaper.
News of the party plans comes as many Zimbabweans struggle to make ends meet in a deepening economic crisis.
Inflation is running at 1,280 per cent and there are critical shortages of foreign currency, essential drugs and basic commodities.
Mugabe blames the United States and Britain for imposing sanctions, precipitating the crisis.
But critics point to the president's controversial policies including a campaign of white land seizures that has seen agricultural production - once the country's economic backbone - plummet by at least 40 per cent.
Levels of discontent are rising: this weekend a civil servants' union warned that its 180,000 members were "agitated" over low salaries and wanted a minimum 400 per cent pay rise.
Nurses and doctors at four hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo have been on strike for seven weeks', paralysing health care.
The weekly Standard newspaper said in an editorial comment on Sunday that it was "ironic" the government "sees absolutely nothing amiss in hosting an ostentatious birthday bash" when doctors and nurses were on strike and thousands of students could no longer afford university fees.
But the ruling party's youth secretary insisted that young people were "very keen" to see the president on his birthday.
"That day is a day where he will be closer to them, encouraging them to have good morals," Sikosana said.
Zim to tighten media laws (subversive material of foreign origin targeted in clampdown)
Zim Bogus traditional healer held (Told woman to hire mermaids, use bull 'privates' to find car)
Zimbabwe's Harry Potter (After 107 year ban, Mugabe legalizes witchcraft and wizardry)
Zimbabwe Chombo, Karimanzira at each others throats (Houses given to cronies, officials paid off)
UN It could've gone better...(Zimbabwean brutality and corruption meets the UN's limp wrist)
Africa Zim warns US ambassador (Amb. Dell could face deportation for criticizing Mugabe Gov't)
Sounds like a job for Bubba Clinton
Can't they just get the money from the UN like every other third world dictatorship?
Don't tell me that all of "Marxist" Bobby's offshore and Swiss bank accounts are tapped out.
Socialist dream country...
Mugabe and his entourage when abroad (say at the UN) live like kings and spend vast monies at luxury stores. His enslaved subjects eat out of garbage cans and live like total animals.
Just another deceitful, exploitative socialist curse on humanity, like Hugo Chavez, Kim Il Jung, John Edwards or Hillary Clinton.
Venezuela, you're next.
I am so glad, in so many ways, to live in a country where the head of state is known simply as "Mr. President."
Reminds me of the birthday bash for Clinton birthday bash in October. No wonder the Clintons and Mugabe get along so famously.
Clintons celebrate many happy remittances
Mark Coultan Herald Correspondent in New York
October 28, 2006
WHO could say this about their 60th birthday party? "I am so touched that my friends, family and the Rolling Stones will be joining me."
This weekend in New York, Bill Clinton, the baby boomer-in-chief, celebrates his birthday, which, like the Queen's, is not on his actual birthday, which was August 19.
It promises to be a Woodstock for left-leaning capitalists: three days of peace, love - and golf.
And spending money - lots of money. As a New York Observer headline put it: "Come Celebrate Bill's 60th! But Bring Six Figures."
Although Hillary Clinton's husband keeps telling the world that this is her era, after she supported him for many years, he cannot keep out of the spotlight.
On Thursday night Hillary celebrated her 59th birthday with a campaign fund-raiser at $US1000 ($1300) a plate at Tavern on the Green, the sort of restaurant in Central Park that does a roaring trade on Mother's Day.
On Wednesday night, Democratic Party faithful gave the New York senator a cake with red, white and blue icing at a party fund-raiser at the distinctly unfashionable Anton's function rooms in Queens.
Bill's birthday is a bit grander. The sponsorship packages range from $US60,000 to $US500,000, or more if you feel generous. The money will go to the William J. Clinton Foundation, which supports the fight against HIV/AIDS, global warming and childhood obesity, among other causes.
This sounds like a worthy cause. Getting checkbook now.
Darned - looks like I've already given all my money to Hillary and Obama!
I would guess that the ever-Excellent Mugabe will spend the last of Zimbabwe's cash buying Cyanide Koolaid for his people.
After all, his Excellency Reverend Jim Jones did, and it's a far more humane method than using machetes with all that chop chop chopping!
Well, Dog Gone! You're right!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1783239/posts
Tribal law is too much like democracy.. actually democracy IS tribal law.. or Mob rule.. Robert Mugabe rules democratically.. His Mob is strongest..
Pretty much same situation rules in Europe.. Mobs rule there too..
Actually same in England and Canada too..
Muzzies will rule eventually..
Actually Mugabes government is a microcosm of all democracy..
Should be studied..
Ben Franklin when asked what kind of gov't we have said a republic... IF you can KEEP IT.. He must've known we would eventually become a democracy too..
Pity that the WORD democracy has become sacrosact in America..
The Brain Washing is because of Federally controlled School system probably..
A piker. Saddam spent 5.5 million on his birthday bash.
Then the creep will blame whitey for the misery that he has caused his country.
Worthy of Mencken or Twain. Clipped and copied.
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