Mugabe claims he has beaten Jesus Christ in resurrection

Harare, Feb 21 (ANI): Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who turned 88 today, has said that he has died and come back to life more times than Jesus Christ.

"I have died many times. I have actually beaten Jesus Christ because he only died once," Mugabe told state radio.

According to The Telegraph, Mugabe, who rules over a nation routinely struck by famine, said that his longevity was a result of abstinence from alcohol and tobacco and eating a balanced diet.

"There are things one must do for oneself. Don't drink at all, don't smoke, you must exercise and eat vegetables and fruit," he said.

In the interviews given ahead of his 88th birthday, he insisted that he was "fit as a fiddle" and said.

"At this age, I can still go some distance, can't I?" he added.

Mugabe, who has been in power since 1987, said it would be up to the people to decide his successor "when I say I am retiring".

Mugabe also repeated his pledge to hold elections this year, even if it means defying South African President Jacob Zuma and other regional leaders who say new polls should be held only after a new democratic constitution is in place.

"This year we must have elections, they must take place with or without a new constitution," the paper quoted Mugabe, as saying.

"If there are those who don't want an election, they are free not to go [to the polls]" he added. (ANI)