Mugabe re-election campaign attracts ex-Barca’ stars, Kluivert and Davids

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president and world’s longest serving president has taken his campaign to global prominence with the recent participation of world renowned footballers in his campaign for yet, another reelection.

The 93-year-old Mugabe has led the country since independence in 1980. He is seeking re-election in polls set for next year.

Former Barcelona players, Patrick Kluivert and Edgar Davids, were in Zimbabwe over the weekend and featured prominently in the campaign rally of President Robert Mugabe.

Davids, 44, and Kluivert, 41; were present at a political rally organized by the ruling Zanu-PF on Saturday. Their visit is a prelude to a November game involving high-profile former players of the Spanish and European giants.

Photos from the rally showed the two players in a front row seat but they did not make any pronouncements at the event. They, however, took photos with Mugabe in what was termed a “surprise appearance” at the Zanu-PF youth rally in the southern town of Gwanda.

Before the rally, the duo had met with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, they presented him with a Barcelona shirt to be given to the president. The number 10 shirt had R. G. Mugabe boldly inscribed at the back.

Both trained at Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, Kluivert and Davids played for Barcelona respectively between 1998 and 2004, and 2003 and 2004.