Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who celebrated his 93rd birthday on February 21, received a wheelchair as a belated birthday gift from his ministers, local media reported.
The president also received a 9 carat customized wristwatch and a pen in addition to the chair during a ceremony at the State House Monday.
Mugabe’s 51-year-old wife, Grace Mugabe who had said in November 2015 that her husband would continue to be president until 100, was also present at the Monday ceremony.
“We are going to create a special wheelchair for President Mugabe until he rules to 100 years, because that is what we want,” Mrs Mugabe said at a political rally in Harare in 2015.
Speaking to cabinet ministers at the ceremony, President Mugabe praised the good spirit of his team and expressed his gratitude.
“I thank all of you for putting your heads together to come up with this gift,” he said as he took delivery of the special mobile chair which was bought in China.
“The gift shows the team spirit which should always prevail all times in the delivery of service to the nation,” the world’s eldest leader said.
The southern African nation’s opposition politicians said the wheelchair was proof that the nonagenarian was “too old and unfit” to rule.
said that the gift was an indication that Mugabe was no longer fit to continue ruling Zimbabawe.
“The special chair is a clear admission that Mugabe is now physically and mentally unfit and we can no longer allow him to govern. He should simply resign,” Secretary General of Movement for Democratic Change Douglas Mwonzora was quoted as saying by New Zimbabwe.com.
Mugabe has been at the helm of the country for the past 37 years.