President Mugabe says he has the energy and vitality to lead the country, contrary to assertions in some quarters that age has caught up with him.Addressing tens of thousands of people who attended the 21st February Movement celebrations to commemorate his 88th birthday at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare on Saturday, the President, who was his usual energetic self, said he was raring to go. 

“These celebrations and your coming here have lifted our spirits . . . I am still strong . . . Ndichinaro simba to lead you but always remember the future belongs to the youths, ndivovachengetedzi venhaka yedu,” he said.

Youths in the crowd were elated when the President reiterated his commitment to youth empowerment.

President Mugabe, who spoke at length on the need for young people to empower themselves through education, handed out certificates to 10 students who benefited from Mbada Diamonds’ 21st February Jewel Scholarship Fund.

The company, one of the four with concessions at the Chiadzwa Diamond Fields, said the scholarship fund would be extended to all the country’s 10 provinces in line with the President’s ambition to educate and empower young people.

Through the fund, Mbada identified academically gifted students and undertook to fund their studies and pay all their school fees until they completed their education.

President Mugabe said Manicaland should not fall prey to the whims of Western values, saying the province has a rich history of being a crucial player in the liberation struggle.

Zanu-PF Manicaland Central Committee member, Mr Esau Mupfumi, said the huge crowd at Sakubva was the biggest ever in Mutare which showed that President Muga-be’s popularity was growing.

“I equate this event to other momentous occasions such as the Independence Day celebrations in 1980 because this was a befitting solidarity to a great leader.

“This is the biggest crowd that has ever attended a gathering in Mutare,” he said.

Mr Mupfumi refuted reports by some sections of the media that people had been bused and coerced to attend the celebrations.

“The majority of people who attended the event were not bused but came on their volition. They used their own transport and no-one forced anyone to attend, this is the most special part of the celebrations,” he said.

Youth leaders from revolutionary parties in the Sadc region also graced the event in a show of befitting solidarity to President Mugabe.

Most people who attended the celebrations were amazed by the 88kg cake, which was given to the President to share with the guests.

One of the facilitators of the festivities, Ms Mavis Gumbo, said the giant cake was symbolic of the President’s status.

“We made an 88kg cake to symbolise the President’s age and also to symbolise his status as an immense figure not only in Zimbabwe but in Africa and the world.

“We also made similar cakes that showcased the beauty of Manicaland and Mutare City as well as other fascinating sites in Zimbabwe,” she said.

The usually serene city of Mutare exploded into life on Saturday as the 21st February Movement celebrations burst into life.

As early as 5am on Saturday, chants of “More Years Gushungo, More Years Gushungo”, reverberated in the city as multitudes of people made their way to Sakubva Stadium for the grand festivities.

By 11am, Sakubva Stadium was filled to capacity while long queues stretched far and wide around the venue of one of the most attended 21st February Movement celebrations.

The 20 000-seater arena proved to be too small for the occasion and the thousands of people who had failed to gain entry and find seats in the terraces were allowed onto the pitch which is usually reserved for the VIPs.