Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Mugabe vs Makoni - The Guilty Accusing Others

By Levi Mhaka

Published on March 12, 2008

Zimbabwea's ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, has issued a statement complaining that a "virulent and vicious" smear campaign is being waged against Zimbabwe over the list of observers invited to witness the country's elections on March 29.

Ambassador Moyo has been reported by South African media to have said the campaign is being driven by the West and certain sections of the South African media.He further claimed that the country's detractors are "trumpeting British falsehoods" about the election process.

"It is therefore disheartening, but not surprising, that certain sections of the media, unfortunately including the South African Broadcasting Corporation, have chosen to ignore the facts ... on the ground. We are now [aware] that whatever good and positive happens in Zimbabwe can never pass as newsworthy as long as such stories do not fit into the well-known and publicly acknowledged broad agenda of 'regime change'," Ambassador Moyo said.

What one finds ridiculous is that Ambassador Moyo is raising dust about a conduct which Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF is directed against Simba Makoni at every opportunity during the campaign.

One wonders if he has been reading the State-owned Herald newspaper.

ZANU PF and its presidential candidate, Robert Mugabe are engaged in a "virulent and vicious" smear campaign is being waged against Zimbabwe over Simba Makoni's candidature.

"It is therefore disheartening, but not surprising, that ZANU PF, unfortunately including President Mugabe, have chosen to ignore the facts ... on the ground."We are now [aware] that whatever good and positive has been done and is being said by Simba Makoni can never pass as newsworthy as long as such stories do not fit into the well-known and publicly acknowledged broad agenda of 'smear campaign," Ambassador Moyo should have said.

Makoni has constitutional right as a citizen of Zimbabwe under the electoral laws to contest. ZANU PF and its electoral candidates must respect that. The mandate to rule the country is derived from the people, let the people decide on March 29, 2008.

The ZANU PF conduct of criminalising and a State-inspired negative public media coverage Simba Makoni's candidature deserves condemnation of the worst kind by fair-minded observers.

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