Mugabe's Chinese Award deserved, says Zanu-PF

ZANU-PF has hit back at President Robert Mugabe's opponents, particularly the opposition MDC-T, for criticising a Chinese peace prize awarded to the 91-year-old leader last month.

Mugabe was awarded the Confucius Peace Prize, dubbed China's version of the globally acclaimed Nobel Peace Prize, after beating off competition from other contenders such as multi-millionaire Microsoft proprietor Bill Gates and South Korean President Park Geun-hye, much to the irritation of the opposition, which felt the award was not deserved.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo defended the award, saying Mugabe was "a global icon" who had also done a lot for his country.

"So is the MDC-T saying they are the ones who deserve the award? President Mugabe has been in power through elections, he has been elected by the people and we conduct elections every five years," he said in reference to claims that he rigged elections.

Opposition parties reacted with scorn to Mugabe's receiving the award, with some describing the veteran ruler as a sadist.

Qiao Damo, founder of the China International Peace Studies Centre, which runs the accolade, has defended the award to Mugabe, arguing the former guerrilla leader had been recognised for his "outstanding contributions" to world peace.

Qiao cited Mugabe's "ability to stabilise Zimbabwe and at the same time, promote peace in Africa" as chairperson of the African Union.

Mugabe's opponents have accused the 91-year-old leader of running down a once thriving economy, persecuting political opponents, engineering genocide and electoral fraud, among many other accusations.