Zimbabwean President Rob­ert Mugabe plans to celebrate his 91st birthday with a party in the resort town of Victoria Falls, the ruling party's youth league announced on Thursday.
The Zanu-PF youth league members have already started fundraising for the party, which traditionally sees thousands of supporters attending, according to a statement.
Donors are expected to hand over "generous" donations this year.
Mugabe opponents regularly criticise the holding of lavish birthday parties for the presi­dent when Zimbabwe's economy, though more stable than during the 2000-2008 crisis, is still far from sound.
"The youth league will ap­proach donors so that they gener­ously donate to the [21st Febru­ary] Movement for the cause this year," according to the statement quoted in Thursday's Chronicle newspaper.
Mugabe's birthday is on 21 Feb­ruary. The 21st February Move­ment was set up in 1986 to raise money to celebrate the presi­dent's birthday each year.
The exact amount supporters hope to raise this year has not been stated.
Mugabe told Zanu-PF members at a party congress last month that he had no intention of retiring."I am here for as long as I am still sane... I still have a bright mind; I still have will. I know our history more than you do," he said.

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