President Mugabe deserves birthday celebrations

It is disheartening that some sections of the media were recently disseminating articles that denounce the birthday celebrations of President Mugabe. President Mugabe turned 91 on the 21st of February 2015. It is prudent to note that this year's President's birthday came amidst his elevation to the chairmanship of the African Union.

As the chairman of African Union and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) President Mugabe will ensure that the gospel of peace and tranquility prevails in the continent.

The 21st February Movement is an annually commemorated event which seeks to celebrate the life of an icon, a freedom fighter and a pan-Africanist, who fought tirelessly to liberate the black majority of Zimbabweans from the white minority rule. By 1980, Southern Rhodesia was liberated from British rule and became the independent Republic of Zimbabwe.

President Mugabe birthday celebrations will be held on the 28th of February in Victoria Falls. The theme to this year's 21st February Movement is, "Celebrating the birth of Gushungo, the icon of Zimbabwe's revolution and champion of youth empowerment".

It is imperative to note that President Mugabe, in his early years trained as a teacher spent 11 years as a political prisoner under Ian Smith's Rhodesian government. It should also be noted that President Mugabe rose to lead the Zimbabwe African National Union movement and was one of the key negotiators in the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement, which led to the independent, democratic Zimbabwe.

It is true that with age, comes wisdom. As Zimbabweans, we continue to cherish the wise, unwavering leadership of President Mugabe. President Mugabe's astute leadership is not benefiting Zimbabweans alone, but the entire Africa. Therefore, Zimbabweans, in their multitudes should be encouraged to attend President Mugabe birthday celebrations in Victoria Falls. The nation should acknowledge that President Mugabe is really a man of the people; hence, he deserves birthday celebrations.
 
The initiative behind the 21st movement is therefore to empower and enlighten the youths. President Mugabe has even created the Ministry of youths and empowerment which caters for the needs of revolutionary conscious youths who have the political will to work and serve the nation.

It's a shame that most opposition parties do not realize the idea behind the 21st February Movement celebrations, citing a number of nonsensical accusations. The Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T), has been working with one of the Non Government Organisation (NGO) in Bulawayo called iBethulikazulu, which had a planned intention of demonstrating against President Mugabe's birthday on the 21st of February.

Most NGOs in Zimbabwe fail to fulfill their mandate of providing charity to the needy, as they divert their services into enhancing regime change. IBethulikazulu's plan was meant to tarnish, the President Mugabe's birthday celebrations through staging a demonstration on which they said was in commemoration of the Gukurahundi.

The MDC-T has been claiming that President's birthday bash will expend a lot of resources. However, I beg to differ with these allegations, because the first family is well known for farming activities, most of the food stuff will come from his farm and well wishers. Further to that, a lot of business people usually donate food stuffs and financial resources to assist in the celebrations.

With these and other important and memorable events that President Mugabe has forgone, and is still sacrificing it is noble for the nation to join hands and celebrate the life for our President. May the Lord continue giving President Mugabe the power to fulfill his mandate, for the betterment of the people of Zimbabwe and the whole continent of Africa.