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In pictures: Mugabe’s birthday bash

Zimbabwe’s president celebrated his 89th birthday on Saturday at a lavish gala attended by thousands.

Zimbabwe(***)s president, Robert Mugabe, released balloons into the air during celebrations to mark his 89th birthday.
By Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi
Published On 3 Mar 2013
His birthday celebration was held in Bindura, 90 kilometres north of the capital Harare.
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More than 15,000 supporters thronged a stadium to join in the birthday celebrations.
Mugabe, left, enjoyed some ice cream with his wife Grace.
Mugabe(***)s wife Grace, centre, with her children Bona, right, and Chatunga.
Police officers kept a close watch over the birthday celebrations.
Mugabe was first elected president in 1980, after Zimbabwe(***)s rule by its white minority came to an end and the country officially gained its independence from the United Kingdom.
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Mugabe greets supporters during the celebrations.
During the 1960s Mugabe was the secretary general of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a nationalist party fighting the rule of the country(***)s white minority. Today, the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front is Zimbabwe(***)s ruling party.
Mugabe spent more than 10 years in jail as a political prisoner during the 1960s and 70s.
A supporter of Mugabe performs during the festivities.
In the past decade, Mugabe has embarked on a controversial programme seizing and redistributing land from white farmers, who had historically owned much of the country(***)s fertile land.