Elephant meat, wild animals 'served' on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's 91st birthday bash

Updated: Monday, March 2, 2015, 16:47 [IST]

Harare, March 2: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who turned 91-year-old recently, has embroiled himself into a controversy over celebrating his birthday in an extravagant manner, where wild animals, including two elephants were slaughtered, cooked and served to over 20,000 guests.

A 91-kg was cake was cut to mark his extravagant million-dollar 91st birthday bash. Seven more cakes were cut, out of them, one was of the shape of the African continent.

According to reports, ZANU-PF leader's birthday celebrations took place at a luxurious lodge, spa and golf course in Victoria Falls at Elephant Hills Resort, where he released 91 balloons into the sky with the help of his 50-year-old wife, Grace.

Besides, a young bull elephant, two buffaloes, two sables and five impalas were donated to the president by a local landowner.

A lion and a crocodile was given to him as an extra gift. Two members of his government gifted him 40 cows.

Over 90 beasts and a number of goats and sheep were also gifted to him.

The opposition members termed his bash as 'obscene' and wildlife conservationists called it "totally unethical".

One of the member of opposition said, "The money used in obscene birthday celebrations could have been utilised to rehabilite the collapsed public hospitals, clinics and rural schools in Matebeleland North province."

During the party, Mugabe, who was dressed in a black suit, white shirt and red tie, delivered a 90-minute speech, where he spoke on US sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Mugabe, who has been ruling Zimbabwe since last 27 years, is infamous in the West for his brutal oppression of opposition parties and his violent seizure of white farmers' land.

Zanu PF youth league secretary, Pupurai Togarepi urged Parliament to amend the constitution to allow the dictator Mugabe to rule for life.
"President Mugabe must be allowed to rule for as long as he lives," Togarepi said.

Last month, Mugabe had publicly fallen after addressing supporters upon his return from an African Union meeting in Ethiopia.

Mugabe, Africa's longest-serving leader, is Zimbabwe's president since 1987 and before that he was the country's first prime minister for seven years, after independence from Britain in 1980.

Zimbabwe's next elections will take place in 2018.