The anniversary was held at State House where Mugabe gave the keynote address in the presence of cabinet ministers, service chiefs, party structures and invited businesspeople.
Mujuru, who was tasked with introducing Mugabe, said she had not been invited to the event but decided to come despite that.
“Takangoita zvekunzwa neguwa. (We heard about the anniversary through rumour). Despite that, I rushed to attend saying I should not be left behind,” Mujuru said.
The event was announced through the media on Thursday.
Party hawks from the women's league are reportedly plotting to remove Mujuru from her current position and, in turn, the possibility of her succeeding Mugabe.
Mugabe, on his part, admitted that the anniversary was mooted and organised at the last minute on Wednesday.
“They (the party organisers) came up with the idea against the run of time and I said, go ahead if that is what is proper,” he said.
A number of senior party members failed to attend the occasion, which however went without hiccups despite starting more than an hour later.
Conspicuous by their absence were party national chairman, Simon Khaya-Moyo and Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, who Mugabe said were away on other missions.
He also said the First Lady, Grace, had travelled out of the country with her daughter, Bona.
Jonathan Moyo, the Information minister who was a losing candidate in Tsholotsho, was also not present.
However, some guests travelled all the way from Bulawayo and other parts of the country, among them war veterans leader, Jabulani Sibanda, and arrived just in time for the ceremony.
Mugabe, in his speech at the anniversary, thanked his followers for uniting to give him and his party a resounding victory in the 2013 general elections.
On the same day, however, the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai led demonstrations in Harare against the elections which the opposition party maintains were rigged.
Mugabe challenged people who were alleging poll fraud to provide evidence to prove their claim.
Post published in: News
Mugabe challenged people who were alleging poll fraud to provide evidence to prove their claim.
We have heard the same dirty trick before during the days of colonial rule when the Police would beat up a victim to death and bury him and then claim he died of heart-attack or something stupid. They will challenge those saying otherwise to produce the evidence! Now we are seeing Mugabe using the same dirty trick.
Mugabe has refused to release the voters roll because he knows it is the smoking gun in the rigged elections.
Fortunately for the country there were just too many people involved in the vote rigging; the full details are there to be uncovered. Even the corrupted voters roll is there; people like Jonathan Moyo and Nikuv operatives will have a copy and will even explain who did what if put under pressure. Mugabe can be sure that the right pressure will be applied.
Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies should know that the evidence of the rigged elections will be amassed and they will be held to account!
Thanks for such a knowledgeable post.
Thanks for such a knowledgeable post.