We all know who has the ‘octopus’ grip

Zimbabwe Independent  

Muckraker                      

Friday, 12 August 2011 

A TINY correction in the Herald caught our attention last week. It was headed “Matter of fact” and ran as follows: “In the Herald of July 30 we carried a story based on an interview with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga.

“In the story General Chiwenga mistakenly stated that the country had peace-keeping officers in Botswana, Burundi, and Ethiopia.

“Zimbabwe does not have soldiers deployed in the three countries.”

It would be useful if the general knew where Zimbabwe’s forces are currently stationed.

Meanwhile, the Herald of August 4 carried a picture of President Mugabe receiving a leopard’s head souvenir from Essar Global vice-chairman Ravi Ruia at the launch of the New Zimbabwe Steel Co in Redcliff.

How long has this company been in the country and how much game have they shot out already? Please Mr Ruia, leave our leopards alone.

The Sunday Mail informs us in a story headed “Gays and Lesbians on the loose” that police are investigating the “invasion” of a popular club, the Book Café, by a group of at least 40 gays and lesbians last month.

This provided the Sunday Mail with a pretext to advertise its ignorance. “They paraded their unholy acts in full view of the public during a performance by popular Afro-pop artiste John Pfumojena,” we are told.

The Sunday Mail reporters, Lincoln Towindo and Edwin Mwase, completely ignored a story in the Zimbabwe Independent setting the record straight, pointing out that while members of the audience did dress up for the occasion, they were most certainly not gay.

“The funniest rumour, reported as sinister fact by the Sunday Mail,” the Independent’s Own Correspondent reported on July 15, “was a ‘gay parade’ at Book Café which turned out to be a bunch of very straight party-time lads out for a massive booze-up.”

We suspect the Sunday Mail wasn’t interested in correcting its daft story. It just wanted to persecute people as part of its bigoted agenda. And then its editors and reporters wonder why they end up on sanctions lists!

Talking of which, who is feeding the president this story about there being 400 British companies operating in Zimbabwe? There may have been 400 here 10 years ago but like everything else that picture has changed. Owing to Zanu PF’s assault on the economy there are probably half that number now.

And anyway, who would want to invest in a country where the head of state threatens to “hit” them in retaliation for sanctions? Those companies are not responsible for the policies of their government. In all probability they oppose sanctions.

But let’s bear in mind companies will go where the investment climate is best. That means somewhere where the authorities are friendly and helpful like Mauritius, Namibia and Ghana. Why should they invest in a country where a predatory elite wants to seize 51% of their capital?

Zanu PF thinks it is doing companies a favour by allowing them to come and work here. But anybody listening to ministers like Saviour Kasukuwere will very quickly take their capital elsewhere. There are many countries which are happy to have investors and which reach out to them. After all, they bring with them fresh capital and technological know-how. Most progressive countries see that as a plus. They also welcome the tax revenues that go with investment. Not in Zimbabwe it seems. Here the plundering instincts of a lawless post-liberation aristocracy scares off investors and wrecks growth and employment prospects.

The Zimbabwe cricket team’s victory over Bangladesh on Sunday was a welcome relief considering the hammering they have been getting of late. Understandably the media was awash with adulatory stories of the team’s exploits. However, ZBC had to take it a notch higher, soaring into the realm of hyperbole.

“The Zimbabwe cricket team sent shockwaves on the test cricket arena after cruising to a 130 run victory over Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club this Monday on the team’s return to test cricket after a six year absence,” ZBC claimed on Monday.

Defeating Bangladesh, at the lower end of ICC rankings for Tests and one day internationals will hardly “send shockwaves” as ZBC claims.

What will happen if Zimbabwe manages to defeat India or Australia? Will it be a tsunami?

Meanwhile, Zanu PF loyalists were this week milking the violence that has hit the United Kingdom for all that it is worth.

Tafataona Mahoso said the violent protests were expected as the British government, which claims to be a champion of democracy, is now forced to have a taste of its own medicine as the violence erupted in an area inhabited by neglected ethnic and other social groups.

Jonathan Moyo, ZBC reports, said the violence that has hit London has exposed British authorities’ hypocrisy and double standards as they parade democratic principles by day yet they exhibits (sic) the opposite by night.

While we know that this is all self-serving drivel from apologists, we have to point out the British media’s hypocrisy. In light of the United Kingdom hosting the Olympics next year, should they not be questioning the “security threat” in their country because of the protests?

Who can forget the overly negative portrayal of South Africa as a crisis-ridden country before the 2010 World Cup?

A cheeky colleague asked Muckraker if Zimbabwe can issue a travel warning to nationals not to visit the UK. He went as far as suggesting that Sports minister David Coltart ask for Zimbabwe to host the Olympics in light of the “security threat” in the UK.

We were also amused by a ZBC story in which Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is said to have “baffled” mourners at Public Service minister Eliphas Mukunoweshuro’s funeral.

“Reports from Warren Hills indicate that Tsvangirai left mourners baffled as he used the burial of the late MDC-T minister to intimidate and castigate any candidate within his party who attempted to question or contest his position as the Western-sponsored party leader.”

Tsvangirai, ZBC adds, re-affirmed his “octopus-like grip” on the MDC-T as he declared war against any dissenting voices within his party, “a development that should have left his party supporters questioning the Prime Minister’s so-called democratic principles which he purports to preach”.

It seems that the mandarins at Pockets Hill did not read Jonathan Moyo’s latest instalment in the Sunday Mail. From his article it is clear from where the people refusing to let go of power come from.