Mugabe urges followers to respect new govt

CHINHOYI, Zimbabwe (AFP) — President Robert Mugabe reasserted his authority in Zimbabwe on Saturday at a lavish birthday party but urged followers to respect the new power-sharing administration.

The extravagant celebrations were held against a backdrop of economic ruin and came weeks after the veteran leader joined a unity government with long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai.

"Under this arrangement I want it known, as some of you were thinking we are no longer in power, we have an inclusive government with the president at the top, followed by the two vice-presidents, then the Prime Minister Tsvangirai and two deputy prime ministers.

"This is a result of the vote in which we did not do well. Let us not complain too much about it. Let's accept things as they are," said Mugabe, who turned 85 on February 21.

The ruling ZANU-PF party was ousted from control of parliament for the first time in elections last March by Tsvangirai's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Mugabe lost the simultaneous first-round presidential poll but won a later run-off unopposed after Tsvangirai pulled out citing violence against his supporters.

The veteran president, who has ruled Zimbabwe non-stop since independence in 1980, blamed former colonial power Britain for his party's defeat at the polls and accused those who turned against ZANU-PF of being traitors.

"They (British) imposed sanctions which resulted in some basic commodities being unavailable so that the people would be disgruntled with the party.

"Some of you thought about your tummies and children and sold out the country," he blasted.

Mugabe supporters raised more than 250,000 US dollars (200,000 euros) for Saturday's celebrations which included a birthday cake weighing 85 kilogrammes (187 pounds).

The party was held north of the capital Harare in the town of Chinhoyi in Mugabe's home province of Mashonaland West.

Crowds arrived in lorries, singing songs in praise of Mugabe, while banners proclaimed him a "great leader who never lets his people down."

Tsvangirai, who has been rallying the donor community for five billion dollars in aid and investment, was not at the celebrations despite initial reports he would attend.

The country desperately needs money to rebuild schools, hospitals and sewers after a decade of economic collapse compounded by country's long political travails.

Chinhoyi local Leo Matiyashe, who runs a food kiosk in the town, had to put business above pleasure as crowds flock to the party.

"I am in business looking for money and I cannot afford to close my shop to attend the birthday party."

Several members of Mugabe's ZANU-PF have farms in Mashonaland West and conditions are considerably better than the rest of the shattered country with a university and one of the best-equipped state hospitals.

Zimbabwe's healthcare system has fallen apart with over 83,000 people affected by a cholera epidemic that has killed more than 3,800.

The country is also battling severe food shortages amid hyperinflation which has rendered the Zimbabwean dollar useless. The World Food Programme reported last month that the number of people without food was estimated at 6.9 million -- more than half the population.

Tsvangirai has appealed to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for help, and the 15-nation bloc is expected to convene an emergency summit to evaluate Zimbabwe's financial proposals.

"The economic environment globally is difficult, so we will do our best," South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said after a meeting of regional ministers ended this week.