It is an offense under Zimbabwe law to insult Mugabe or undermine the authority of his office. HARARE, Zimbabwe (Washington Post) A militant youth group loyal to Zimbabwe’s president is calling for a boycott of a restaurant chain whose latest advertisement depicts the aging, authoritarian president as “the last dictator standing,” state radio reported Tuesday.The radio quoted the head of the group calling for South Africa-based Nando’s to withdraw the ad that depicts President Robert Mugabe or face punitive action. Jimu Kunaka, the head of group known as Chipangano, said the restaurant chain risked action including a boycott. Chipangano is a “brotherhood” of Mugabe loyalists.The commercial that touts chicken shows Mugabe dining alone at Christmas, his empty table set for departed dictators including Moammar Gadhafi.To the soundtrack of Mary Hopkin’s hit song “Those were the days, my friend,” the commercial shows an actor playing Mugabe reminiscing about his times with former dictators. It portrays him and Gadhafi engaging in a water-pistol fight, with Gadhafi wielding a golden AK-47 water pistol.The ersatz Mugabe also makes sand angels with Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, sings karaoke with Chairman Mao, and holds overthrown Ugandan dictator Idi Amin astride a tank in a scene parodying Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the hit movie “Titanic.” (Details)Zimbabwe militants seek restaurant boycott over ad showing leader as “last dictator standing”
Labels:
Robert Mugabe»
Zimbabwe
It is an offense under Zimbabwe law to insult Mugabe or undermine the authority of his office. HARARE, Zimbabwe (Washington Post) A militant youth group loyal to Zimbabwe’s president is calling for a boycott of a restaurant chain whose latest advertisement depicts the aging, authoritarian president as “the last dictator standing,” state radio reported Tuesday.The radio quoted the head of the group calling for South Africa-based Nando’s to withdraw the ad that depicts President Robert Mugabe or face punitive action. Jimu Kunaka, the head of group known as Chipangano, said the restaurant chain risked action including a boycott. Chipangano is a “brotherhood” of Mugabe loyalists.The commercial that touts chicken shows Mugabe dining alone at Christmas, his empty table set for departed dictators including Moammar Gadhafi.To the soundtrack of Mary Hopkin’s hit song “Those were the days, my friend,” the commercial shows an actor playing Mugabe reminiscing about his times with former dictators. It portrays him and Gadhafi engaging in a water-pistol fight, with Gadhafi wielding a golden AK-47 water pistol.The ersatz Mugabe also makes sand angels with Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, sings karaoke with Chairman Mao, and holds overthrown Ugandan dictator Idi Amin astride a tank in a scene parodying Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the hit movie “Titanic.” (Details)
