DESPITE being demonised by Western nations and their fellow African protégés, President Robert Mugabe tomorrow (February 212015) celebrates his 91st birthday riding on the wave of his ever-increasing true African statesmanship stature.
His continued survival from unprecedented blitzes by those who harbour ill wishes for him, it’s a shocker that he has managed to stay afloat.
President Mugabe’s health check-ups or a visit to a doctor always attracts the attention of the so-called private media with some constantly peddling false and embarrassing rumours of his supposed ‘death’.
But what makes this man tick?
At 91, President Mugabe has not only showed resilience, but has displayed astounding mental strength that more often than not scares the hell out of friends and foes alike.
As leader of Zimbabwe since independence, President Mugabe has remained strong and is still fighting for the economic emancipation of the black majority across Africa.
His road to the attainment of the African statesmanship has not been an easy one as he has faced hurdles at home and abroad.
His stance on the upliftment of the livelihoods of the majority was responded to with economic sanctions by the West.
It was on February 18 2002 that the European Union joined the United States in imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe on flimsy accusations reports of human rights violations.
Note that the sanctions included a ‘travel ban’ on President Mugabe and the First Lady, Dr Amai Grace Mugabe.
Today, those sanctions remain, albeit under the impish and incredulous banner of so-called ‘travel ban’.
The imposition of the sanctions on President Mugabe and the country meant a difficult time for him as a leader as he was restrained from fulfilling his mandate for the country and therefore needed him to be strong.
Faced with economic, social and political problems that threatened the sovereignty of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe remained steadfast.
Years that followed, saw the West trying hard to punish President Mugabe while some African leaders distanced themselves from engaging bi-lateral relations with Zimbabwe.
Year 2007 saw the University of Edinburgh withdrawing an honorary degree it had awarded President Mugabe in 1984 for his services to education in Africa.
“The removal of this honorary degree shows the people of Zimbabwe that we recognise their struggle,” said Edinburgh University rector Mark Ballard.
The irony is that the ‘struggle’ of Zimbabweans became clear to the West after the 2000 Land Reform and Resettlement Programme which saw about 4 000 white farmers being displaced in order to accommodate over 400 000 black households.
In 2008, the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees revoked the honorary law degree it gave to President Mugabe in 1986.
That same year, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II stripped President Mugabe of an honorary knighthood awarded in 1994 by former Prime Minister John Major.
There is no doubt that Zimbabwe suffered economically, socially and politically from the sanctions, but the important thing is President Mugabe and Zimbabweans remained strong.
It is President Mugabe’s strong will and hope for a better Zimbabwe that resulted in ZANU PF winning the 2013 harmonised election ending the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The West may belittle and demonise him, but President Mugabe remains an icon.
His political will and endurance saw him being elevated to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson in August 2014.
Five months later, he became the Africa Union (AU) Chairman, a bitter pill to swallow for the West.
This year’s 21st February Movement is not only a celebration of the birth of President Mugabe, but a celebration of his successes.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘Celebrating the Birth of Gushungo, the Icon of Zimbabwe’s Revolution and Champion of Youth Empowerment’.