I have beaten Jesus Christ - Mugabe

Harare - President Robert Mugabe declared himself as "fit as a fiddle" as he celebrated his 88th birthday on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the Herald carried 22 pages of messages congratulating the veteran ruler.

"The day will come when I will become sick," Mugabe said in an interview on ZBC, dismissing fears about his health.

"As of now I am fit as a fiddle."

He poked fun at reports that suffers from a life-threatening disease.

"I have died many times," he said. "That's where I have beaten Jesus Christ. Christ died once and [been] resurrected once. I have died and [been] resurrected and I don't know how many times I will die and resurrect."

Mugabe's health has been the subject of much speculation, especially since WikiLeaks last year released a 2008 diplomatic cable saying central bank chief Gideon Gono had told then-US ambassador James McGee that Mugabe had prostate cancer and had been advised by doctors he had less than five years to live.

Last year he visited Singapore several times, with his spokesperson saying the president had gone for cataract surgery amid repeated media reports that he was suffering from cancer.

Mugabe's health has been cited as one reason that a faction of his Zanu-PF party has pushed to rush new elections.

He turned 88 on Tuesday, marking the day with staffers and his wife Grace, sharing a birthday cake in the colours of the national flag.

He will hold a public rally at a stadium in the eastern border city of Mutare on Saturday, where the celebrations will include a football match by major league teams and a concert featuring the country's top musicians.

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