No Mondavi for Mugabe: Zimbabwe Demands Birthday Contributions of 2000 Bottles of Champagne, Lobsters and Other Delights

With unprecedented inflation making its currency worthless and rampant starvation and cholera, most people would have a hard time celebrating, but not the family and friends of President Mugabe, who have drawn up the list of items needed to celebrate his 85th birthday. The list (below) includes 2,000 bottles of champagne (Moët & Chandon or ’61 Bollinger preferred); 8,000 lobsters; 100kg of prawns; 4,000 portions of caviar; 8,000 boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates; 3,000 ducks; and other essentials. One thing barred is “No mealie meal” — the corn product that is sustaining millions of people in the country.

Of the country’s 12 million people, only 480,000 have formal jobs, or roughly 6 percent. Inflation has now forced the government to issue a $100 billion bill. It will buy three eggs, so a ’61 Bollinger would have to be donated just to avoid the math.

Mugabe’s family continue to spend wildly aboard, including a recent trip where his wife reportedly attacked photographers. She returned to the country and reportedly seized property for herself.

The government is pressuring companies to produce the goods for the celebration.

Here is part of the birthday list and you still have time to make the donation in time for Mugabe to blow out the candles on his burning nation:

2,000 bottles of champagne — Moët & Chandon and ’61 Bollinger
500 bottles of whisky — Johnny Walker Blue Label, 22-year-old Chivas
8,000 lobsters
100kg king prawns
3,000 ducks
4,000 portions of caviar
8,000 boxes of Ferrero Rocher
16,000 eggs
3,000 cakes — chocolate and vanilla
4,000 packs of pork sausages
500kg cheese
4,000 packets of crackers

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