The money raised was donated to that cause.
“The president did not see it fit to commemorate this day whilst villagers in some parts of the country were homeless‚ hungry and had no clothing. As a result of the tragedy caused by the cyclone we will donate [the money instead to] all the victims‚” said the then Zanu PF national secretary for the Youth League Josiah Tungamirai.
When he turned 76 in 2000 there were growing calls that he should step down.
One political analyst quoted by New Ziana‚ on February 22‚ 2000‚ Alfred Nhema‚ challenged Mugabe to work on his exit plan and appoint a successor.
“He should take advantage of his birthday to state his real position on retirement‚ and should encourage those with ambition to take over from him‚” Nhema said at the time.
However‚ 17 years later‚ nothing of that sort had happened.
The 21st February movement celebrations have also been an eye opener into the real Robert Mugabe.
In a televised interview in 1998‚ he reminisced about when he was around six years old and used to walk around naked without notice of anything around him as he carried on with his business of herding goats.
“Those were the best times of my life‚” he told state television.
“I have never allowed myself to have enemies‚” he went on.