Tsvangirai celebrated 62nd birthday at home

Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader celebrated his 62nd birthday at his Highlands home yesterday, surrounded by family and close friends momentarily forgetting the raging factional wars in his party.

Officials still in good books with the MDC leader "popped in" to offer their congratulatory messages.

Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesperson, said his boss' birthday was a private affair.

"His birthday is just a private event and therefore should not be nationalised," he said.

"So we had a function at home with family and friends. His birthday is not a place to slaughter 90 beasts as other people do," said Tamborinyoka, in apparent reference to President Robert Mugabe, who was treated to 90 beasts, king size birthday cakes and an assortment of presents from his followers.

But Tsvangirai, according to his spokesperson, preferred low key celebrations.

"The president spent the day with his family. It was a quite event with some coming or calling on the phone."

The so-called rebels calling for Tsvangirai's ouster predictably snubbed the event.

But Tamborinyoka downplayed their absence.

"We do not do that in the MDC, no one is compelled to attend the celebrations some came or called and some did not, but it is not a big issue," he said.