Meet Mugabe, the preacher

"All great men have a tendency to be brilliant in diversity," so goes a famous saying.

From being a renowned statesman, Pan Africanist, iconic liberator, revolutionary, teacher and intellectual, President Mugabe added another feather to his cap at a function to mark his 89th birthday at State House last Wednesday.

This time, the President showed his prowess as a preacher, delivering a sermon that is likely to remain deeply etched in the minds of guests who attended the celebrations hosted by the Office of the President and Cabinet.

For a good 30 minutes, President Mugabe - who swapped his Presidential attire for a "pastoral frock" - gave intricate details on how his secret to longevity was deeply rooted in the heavens.

He also revealed - to those who were not aware - that he was on a divine assignment; an assignment to lead the country.

"It is He, our Creator, who is responsible for the fact that I am 89, and true, when you get to that stage, you cannot avoid thinking that yesterday when I was younger we were many. Some have dropped off. Where are they gone?

"The Lord has chosen that they go. The Lord has chosen that I remain. Why is it that all my friends are gone and my relatives are gone and I continue to linger on?

"It is not my choice. It is His choice," said the President in an effervescent tone.

Like the accomplished orator he is, Cde Mugabe gave the congregation points to ponder as he interspersed his "sermon" with confounding truths.

Many of his loved ones have already departed from the earth, yet he continues to be blessed with a clean bill of health.

Who is He that gives and takes?

Who is He that destroys and builds again?

Who is he that gives life?

The President summed it all, saying it is the Lord God Almighty who holds our lives in His hands.

He was grateful to God for giving him long life.

"As you move from stage to stage, there is a kind of loneliness and solitude around you because of the loss of friends; loss of relatives and of very dear ones.

"You say to yourself: that is life. That is how He, who has made us, wants us to sustain life. He destroys here and constructs there. That is it, and we continue to live."

President Mugabe said empowering Zimbabweans economically through the land reform programme and the indigenisation policy are among the blessings God has entrusted him to provide Zimbabweans.

"The choice that we make is that we shall live to serve others as indeed we serve ourselves, our nation and our country.

"The Lord wants us to be Zimbabweans in their own country with the right of ownership over our own resources.

"We should not be afraid to defend our rights to our land and our resources because this is what God wants for us. The Lord has appointed me to be the leader of Zimbabwe so that I fulfill this mandate to empower the people."

As is the norm everywhere the Word is preached, a praise-and-worship segment is sure to be on the programme.

Gospel superstar Mai Shingisai Suluma led guests in singing praises to the Lord while celebrating the birthday of President Mugabe.

The song Nanhasi became a birthday anthem.

The director of ceremony for the day, Cde Webster Shamu, fulfilled the President's wish for Mai Suluma to belt out the tune that inspires deep reflection and praise.

President Mugabe said the song is spiritual and carries a special meaning.

"I want to thank Mai Suluma for coming here to perform for us. She knew that zuva iri richasvika chete. It was a request I made last year, but I am grateful to her that she has waited for this long to come and perform this song for me.

"God loves us and, true to Mai Suluma's song, God is always protecting us. Mai Suluma is very talented . . . It is not only the lyrics but the melody reverberates in our ears.

"If you listen to her lyrics you will realise that she is spot-on. Tinotenda kunaMwari kuti Mai Suluma vari kushandisa chipo chavo (We thank God that Mai Suluma is using her talent well)."

The number 89 has a religious meaning. According to numerology.com, the number represents the sum of chapters of the Four Gospels: 28 for Matthew, 16 for Mark, 24 for Luke and 21 for John.

President Mugabe is a devout Catholic who grew up in the religious surroundings of Kutama Mission.

During his younger days, he spent most of his time with priests and he was particularly close to Father Jerome O'hea who was the head of Kutama Mission.

President Mugabe turned 89 last Thursday and the official 21st February movement celebrations will be held at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura on Saturday.