News / National
90 beasts slaughtered for Mugabe's birthday bash
23 Feb 2014 at 10:01hrs | Views
OVER 90 cattle will be slaughtered at President Robert Mugabe's 90th birthday celebrations which are being held today at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera, a senior Zanu-PF official said.
Mugabe, who returned from a cataract operation in Singapore yesterday, turned 90 on Friday.
Mashonaland East Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, Ray Kaukonde said preparations for the bash, for which at least $1 million was budgeted, were going on smoothly yesterday, adding that this year's event would be bigger than previous ones.
"We are happy that all the preps are going according to plan. Over 90 cattle will be slaughtered in honour of the President," he said.
Kaukonde however, could not disclose how much had been raised or which foreign dignitaries would grace the occasion.
"Those questions are best answered by the youth secretary Absalom Sikhosana," he said.
However, Sikhosana's phones were not available yesterday.
In previous interviews Sikhosana was quoted as saying everything was in order for the 21st February Movement celebrations and that people had been "very generous".
He also hinted that some liberation movements in the Sadc region would attend the bash.
"I can tell you that people from United Kingdom, America and the West have contacted us inquiring about the event. Also, the countries in the East have already told us that they want to come. The event is over-subscribed."
The celebrations, which are being run under the theme, Zim Asset — Growing the Economy for Youths: Empowerment and Employment were said to be for the youth, who are looking for opportunities and employment.
Last year's celebrations, which were held in the mining town of Bindura, were estimated to have cost over $600 000 and former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Gideon Gono donated a gift of 89 cattle to Mugabe.
Speaking at the wedding of Gono's daughter last year, Mugabe said the former RBZ governor had lived up to the pledge to give him cattle that corresponded with his age on his birthday.
It was not possible to ascertain whether Gono had fulfilled the pledge this year.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba last night referred The Standard to Gono.
"Why don't you ask Gono the benefactor because the President is the receiver," Charamba said.
Gono's mobile numbers were unavailable last night.
Mugabe, who returned from a cataract operation in Singapore yesterday, turned 90 on Friday.
Mashonaland East Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, Ray Kaukonde said preparations for the bash, for which at least $1 million was budgeted, were going on smoothly yesterday, adding that this year's event would be bigger than previous ones.
"We are happy that all the preps are going according to plan. Over 90 cattle will be slaughtered in honour of the President," he said.
Kaukonde however, could not disclose how much had been raised or which foreign dignitaries would grace the occasion.
"Those questions are best answered by the youth secretary Absalom Sikhosana," he said.
However, Sikhosana's phones were not available yesterday.
In previous interviews Sikhosana was quoted as saying everything was in order for the 21st February Movement celebrations and that people had been "very generous".
He also hinted that some liberation movements in the Sadc region would attend the bash.
"I can tell you that people from United Kingdom, America and the West have contacted us inquiring about the event. Also, the countries in the East have already told us that they want to come. The event is over-subscribed."
The celebrations, which are being run under the theme, Zim Asset — Growing the Economy for Youths: Empowerment and Employment were said to be for the youth, who are looking for opportunities and employment.
Last year's celebrations, which were held in the mining town of Bindura, were estimated to have cost over $600 000 and former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Gideon Gono donated a gift of 89 cattle to Mugabe.
Speaking at the wedding of Gono's daughter last year, Mugabe said the former RBZ governor had lived up to the pledge to give him cattle that corresponded with his age on his birthday.
It was not possible to ascertain whether Gono had fulfilled the pledge this year.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba last night referred The Standard to Gono.
"Why don't you ask Gono the benefactor because the President is the receiver," Charamba said.
Gono's mobile numbers were unavailable last night.
Source - The Standard
