Mugabe to feed birthday guests on lion, elephant and sable

Mugabe turns 91 on February 21 but the big bash is slated for February 28 at a five-star hotel in the resort town of Victoria Falls

A wealthy farmer has pledged to slaughter animals worth a total of R1.4-million to feed Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his birthday party guests

Tendai Musasa, of Victoria Falls, is reportedly intent on donating two elephants, two buffaloes, two sables, one lion and five impala for Mugabe's birthday festivities, which about 20000 guests are expected to attend.

Mugabe turns 91 on February 21 but the big bash is slated for February 28 at a five-star hotel in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

The Zanu-PF youth wing, which is organising the festivities, has raised almost R6-million for the party, about half its target.

Tongai Kasukuwere, the youth wing's secretary for finance, said: "We have sourced more than half of what we want and more companies and individuals are promising to contribute in the near future."

Dubbed the 21st February movement, Mugabe's birthday bash will involve Africa's longest-serving head of state sparing no expense to ensure that his guests have the very best of everything

According to Zimbabwean newspaper The Chronicle, Musasa, who owns Woodlands Farm, said he had consulted his board and that the decision to donate the animals for the feast had been unanimous.

Musasa said: "This is our way of supporting the function and to ensure a celebratory mood in our community as well.

"The total value is $120000; this reflects the money we get annually and we thought this would be a perfect gesture.

"We are making arrangements with the Parks and Wildlife management authority to slaughter the animals a few days before the big day."

Conservationists have slammed Musasa's donation, some groups labelling it unethical.

According to the UN World Food Programme: "One-third of Zimbabwe's children are stunted, or short for their age, due to widespread hunger in Zimbabwe."

Villagers have accused Musasa of abuse of the natural resources that are meant to benefit them.

The villagers told journalists that the animals donated by Musasa are part of their hunting quota, this means that, once the animals are gone, it will be a long time before they will be able to make money from hunting.

Nhlalo Ndaba/TimesLive