Mugabe lavish sister-in-law with $60k worth of birthday gift despite economic woes

Even in the face of crunch economic crisis facing the country, a gift worth thousands of dollars seems to be the best choice for a birthday gift. This is the case after it was reported that Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe lavished his sister-in-law with a gift worth $60,000 on her birthday.

According to a report by state-owned Herald newspaper on Monday, Mugabe who just returned to the country after being away for sometime due to health issues gave his sister-in-law a birthday gift worth $60,000 (£46,000), at a time when the country is running critically short of cash

Mugabe, 93, and his wife Grace gave Junior Gumbochuma, the money at her birthday celebrations, while the couple's children also gave her $10,000 which is was to thank her for helping with Mr Mugabe's children, reports The Herald newspaper.

Gumbochuma, who is Grace Mugabe's elder sister, celebrated her 60th birthday on Sunday as Grace celebrated her 52nd at one of the Mugabes' farms in Shamva, northeast of Harare.
Zimbabwe's economy has been on a downturn for over a decade as the country is experiencing a cash shortage.

Meanwhile Mugabe on Friday pleaded with his country’s skilled workers living in diaspora to return home so that they could help in reviving the country's failing economy. 

The call came at a time when an estimated four million Zimbabweans were living outside the country after fleeing economic problems and alleged political persecution at the hands of the 93 year-old leader’s administration.