President Donald Trump should be given a chance to prove himself, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe says.

He went on to express his support for Mr Trump's America-first policy, saying "America for Americans" and "Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans".

It is unusual for the veteran head of state to publicly back any US president.

The US imposed sanctions such as travel bans and an assets freeze on Mr Mugabe and his allies in 2001.

The sanctions were imposed over allegations of human rights abuses and election rigging.

Zimbabwe's government says they caused the country's economic collapse.

Most experts however blame Mr Mugabe's seizure of white-owned farms, which used to be Zimbabwe's economic backbone.

With Mr Trump's reputation for being unconventional, Mr Mugabe is hoping his administration might decide to lift the sanctions.

"Give him time," Zimbabwe's leader said of Mr Trump in an interview aired ahead of his 93rd birthday on Tuesday.

"Mr Trump might even re-look [at] the sanctions on Zimbabwe."

Perhaps, Robert Mugabe is on a mission to seek support from any one.

Mugabe ruined the economy of his country and his people. But I am also a man of color so I remain neutral on Mugabe because I would have also been discriminated under the regime of Ian Smith because of my brown skin.