Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe celebrates his 90th birthday Sunday Feb 23,2014

Thousands of Zimbabweans have attended an official 90th birthday celebration for President Robert Mugabe on Sunday Feb 23,2014
"I feel as youthful and energetic as a boy of nine," said Mugabe, at the event in Marondera, 75 kilometers (45 miles) east of Harare. More than 45,000 people gathered at the stadium, said organizers from Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

Robert Mugabe turned 90 on Friday Feb 21,2014 but was in Singapore for eye surgery at the time

Robert Mugabe who has been in power since 1980, released 90 balloons into the air at a stadium east of the capital Harare.In July 2013,Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the nation for 33 years since 1980, won disputed elections for another five-year term that will take him to age 94

Many schoolchildren were among the crowd, waving flags and chanting Mr Mugabe's clan name.

Huge cakes were on display in the centre of the stadium in Marondera, about 80km (50 miles) from Harare, while the crowd wore red scarves, as is traditional on the president's birthday.

In an hour-long speech he said Zimbabweans did not hate former colonial masters the British, but loved their own country more.

Robert Mugabe also condemned homosexuals for performing what he called "unnatural acts".

The cost of the celebration - estimated at about $1m - has prompted criticism in a country suffering from severe economic problems