Secret of Mugabe’s good skin: botox

President Robert Mugabe turned 85 at the weekend, an event that has led to speculation about how the old monster keeps his relatively youthful appearance. In a Hello!-style interview on local television at the weekend, Mugabe attributed his apparent good health not to a rigorous exfoliating regime, but regular exercise. However a doctor based in Harare, who for obvious reasons wanted to remain anonymous, offered another reason to the Times.

"You can usually tell how a person is going to look by observing their parents," he said. "Mugabe's mother reached 92 and she looked, well, like a prune. He should be looking like her at his age. The secret has to be Botox. It also explains why his face often changes so dramatically, from being chubby to gaunt and hollow-cheeked. It's what happens when you don't have regular treatment." Such claims have been voiced before - a former US ambassador referred to him as "Botox Bob".

Meanwhile, organisers of Mugabe's birthday celebrations have had quite a struggle raising funds. On Saturday, the youth league of his Zanu-PF party staged an event featuring 10,000 children. The plan was to feed them on slaughtered oxen, sticky cakes and fizzy drinks. However, despite menacing youth league officials demanding cash from farmers and local businessmen to top up the coffers, the party was not quite the grand affair they had intended because only $200,000 of the $300,000 needed was raised.

None of this, however, has dampened his supporters' enthusiasm to mark the event. At a small function at the weekend, Mugabe's defence minister said: "Like a mighty crocodile, you have remained resilient, focused and resolute against all odds. We pray... that the almighty God grants you many more years." ·