The Zimbabwe Review: personalities

Showing posts with label personalities. Show all posts

What the past few weeks have revealed about Morgan Tsvangirai

Sep 19, 2012

The past few weeks have been a hectic, torrid time for Movement for Democratic Change leader and Zimbabwe coalition government Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai. What is amazing is how most of the damage to his image has been so wantonly reckless and self-inflicted. Even if he gets over this image hump, what the public has learned about him in recent weeks is not particularly confidence-inspiring for a leader whose brand is largely based on the promise of conduct different from that of the politicians who have been in control for the past three decades.

U.K. Telegraph appoints Mnangagwa as Mugabe's successor

Apr 8, 2012

'Robert Mugabe strikes secret deal to hand Zimbabwe power to Emmerson Mnangagwa' is the kind of headline that is impossible to ignore when it appears on a news alert in your email inbox. Noticing it is from an article in the Mugabe-obsessed, generally Africa-unfriendly British Telegraph immediately reduces the newsworthiness and punch of the sexy-sounding heading. The Telegraph has had a few of what can be considered Mugabe/Zimbabwe scoops, but it has also cooked up many unlikely conspiracies and dubious stories around the person of Mugabe. The British paper makes its bitterness against Mugabe for his treatment of Zimbabwe's British-derived white farmers clear, and its main jump-off point for its Mugabe/Zimbabwe reportage. But even if this latest Mugabe story turns out to be as thin as many of the Telegraph's previous ones, the typically heavily anti-African readers' comments are sure to be revealing of a particular British mindset on the very emotional-for-them subjects of Mugabe and Zimbabwe.

Bornwell Chakaodza, rest in peace

Feb 14, 2012

The Zimbabwe Review would like to join in the many accolades to the late Bornwell Chakaodza, well-known Zimbabwean journalist, who died of stomach cancer at age 60 on January 24, 2012.

Church man Makandiwa’s fascinating Mercedes Benz wedding gift: a critique

Jan 20, 2012

Religious entrepreneur Emmanuel Makandiwa made a lot of waves in Zimbabwe in 2011. In status-obsessed Zimbabwe, at year end the ‘prosperity gospel’ preacher and purported miracle worker added considerably to his mystique by giving a young couple the wedding gift of a Mercedes Benz car. What are some of the messages of this gesture that had so much of the country talking?

Why have Morgan Tsvangirai and his handlers allowed Locadia Tembo marriage issue to become a public relations disaster?

Nov 28, 2011

Almost from any angle, the story of if and how Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai got traditionally married to Ms. Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo is strange. That his emissaries went to her family and took part in some socio-cultural ceremony is not denied by any one. But was it the traditional payment of roora/lobola/bride price, or was it ‘damages’ for her reported out-of –wedlock pregnancy? That has been the crux of much of the discussion, with surprisingly confusing signals from those who would be expected to know, and surprising reluctance from the two ‘principals’ to clear this up and avoid a looming public relations disaster for Tsvangirai. Quite unintentionally, what should be a straight forward and happy private matter has become a fraught issue of personal and political brand management, or the lack of it.

No gaiety in Tsvangirai gay rights flip flop

Nov 7, 2011

MDC leader, current Prime Minister and possible future Zimbabwean president Morgan Tsvangirai has had a change of heart about gay rights. In 2010 he publicly supported President Robert Mugabe’s vocal anti-gay stance. Now he has expressed a defense not of the practice of homosexuality, but of the right of homosexuals to constitutional protections. In different circumstances Tsvangirai’s new position would have seemed a brave defense of an unpopular minority’s rights to civil protections all citizens should be able to count on. But the messy manner of Tsvangirai’s ‘coming out’ with his new stance has left egg all over his face, giving insight into the political smarts, or lack of them, of Zimbabwe’s aspiring next leader.

Alec Russel and the Financial Times: turning tables on Rowan Williams’ tea with Robert Mugabe

Oct 21, 2011

President Robert Mugabe’s ability to stir instinctive, deep-seated anger in British hearts and minds is legendary and astonishing. He must be one of the relatively few ‘brutal despots’ who stirs far more deep-seated negative emotion in a foreign country than even in his own. An article about British Church of England archbishop Rowan Williams’ recent visit with Mugabe, featured in the (UK) Financial Times, is an interesting read on this theme, which is frequently examined on this space.

Richard Branson, Jonathan Moyo, Gideon Gono and the hare brained scheme to bribe Robert Mugabe out of power

Oct 15, 2011

by Chido Makunike

US diplomatic cables released to the public by Wikileaks show that well-known British businessman Richard Branson was one of many who pre-occupied themselves with how to ease long term Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe out of power. It adds to the increasing evidence of the unusual, astonishing interest in influencing Zimbabwean affairs by the British media, government and private individuals like Branson. What Branson’s clumsy efforts do is simply give more credence to Mugabe’s contention that neo-colonialism and preserving kith and kin interests are the main reasons for the levels of attempted British intervention in Zimbabwe, rather than any concern for ’human rights and democracy.’ Mugabe may be a despot, but on the issue of Zimbabwe, this serves as more confirmation of just how soiled are British hands.

Sunday Mail gives Jonathan Moyo rope with which to hang himself over Wikileaks

Sep 11, 2011

In its aggressively and slavishly pro-ZANU role the Sunday Mail is usually blunt and heavy-handed to the point of being counter-productive at winning over people to the side of its political masters. The arguments and propaganda are so often overdone that they make one laugh and shake one's head in disbelief. So it was with great surprise that one observes the clever subtlety with which the paper let the infamous Jonathan Moyo further embarrass himself over the epic Wikileaks tale. The paper allowed him to attempt to play analyst of leaked U.S.diplomatic cables in which he features in unflattering light, and to explain his justification for behavior he has ridiculed others for. We all embarrass ourselves at some time or other, but most wise people capable of feeling shame either humbly own up, or lie low and keep quiet, or all three.

Can Gideon Gono avoid trouble for himself over latest Wikileaks cables?

Sep 5, 2011

That Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono has “considerable ego and ambition” is no secret to anyone. Nor are his love for the limelight and his predilection for depicting himself as the central player in any of the dramas in which he has been involved. Those have been many, in his role a central banker whose closeness to the Mugabes and resulting influence is without precedence in Zimbabwe. Are the new Wikileaks U.S. diplomatic cables revelation going to change everything for Gono?

Mujuru: separating the ZANU-PF factions from the media fictions

Sep 3, 2011

The late Solomon Mujuru was unquestionably a distinguished soldier of Zimbabwe's war of independence. He certainly remained influential in ZANU-PF politics long after he retired as army commander. However, after his recent death the media is struggling to back up its implication, built up over many years, that Mujuru was so super-powerful that his absence will cause a fundamental shift in the country's politics.

With Solomon Mujuru's death, what are now the dynamics of ZANU-PF 'factions?'

Aug 30, 2011

The pre-occupation of most people interested in the subject is still with what and/or who might have killed Solomon Mujuru. The results of the ongoing official investigation into his death by fire is unlikely to end the speculation. While everybody plays armchair expert over issues that only forensic experts can even hope to find conclusive answers to, it is perhaps worthwhile to ask questions over the issue of 'factions' in ZANU-PF that Mujuru is said to have been at the center of.

Gono misses the point on Kasukuwere's Barclays, Stanchart banking indigenization ultimatum

Aug 22, 2011

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono and minister in charge of Indigenization Savior Kasukuwere both have rather large egos and both love playing to the gallery. So when they clash publicly as they have done on applying the country's controversial indigenization laws to the banking sector, fireworks are guaranteed. However, their knocking of heads is clouded by the fact that they are arguing from very different terms of reference in which both may be narrowly correct, but which show the overall policy confusion on indigenization.

On the death of Solomon Mujuru, intrigue and conspiracy theories galore

Aug 17, 2011

In Zimbabwe the death of any prominent senior member of the ruling elite is an occasion for mass catharsis on some level. Ordinary people discuss whether the deceased's life record was net positive or net negative, and what he or she could and should have done differently to contribute to shaping the country's trajectory. In all these respects and many more, Solomon Mujuru's death will be 'off the charts.'

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