adminPeople across the African continent have reacted angrily and with disdain to the recent heckling in Abuja, Nigeria of President Mugabe by American-sponsored Nigerian activists camouflaging as journalists for Sahara Reporters during the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
They described their actions as a denigrating attack on Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans in general who elected President Mugabe during the 2013 harmonised elections.
“Don’t you think its time to step down Sir?” One of the journalists asked President Mugabe. “When will there be change in Zimbabwe?”
She persisted, exposing her naked ignorance about elections in Zimbabwe and the fact that the country held elections some two years back.
The uncalled for persistent harassment reflected on what could be viewed by many as a strange aversion of the Zimbabwean leadership by some in Nigeria , who are forgetting that they have a bigger problem of containing Boko Haram in their own backyard.
Commenting on his twitter account, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Professor Jonathan Moyo hit out at the activists attached to, Sahara Reporters describing what they did as practicing “Boko Haram journalism”.
“If Nigerian journalism has come to this, then God help Nigeria since nobody has monopoly over such uncouth misconduct.
“It is a sad tale of a man biting a dog when journalists make news they should be covering,” said Prof. Moyo.
Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba yesterday described the journalists as the gang that does not deserve the tag “media outfit.”
“This is not a media outfit; these are activists with cameras and it is actually a misnomer for anyone to refer to them as journalists because they are not that,” said Mr Charamba.
He said the activists had, unbeknown to the Nigerian authorities, a pre-arranged motive to humiliate two leaders and took advantage of the protocol lapses at the venue of the inauguration.
“That was the first loophole. The second loophole was a protocol requirement that all Heads travel on a bus, so essentially it meant that, that protocol expectation by the host country strips Heads (of State) of their normal structures of protection and interaction including with players like the so-called Sahara TV,” said Mr Charamba.
The following are some of the reactions from across Africa:
Ryan Kuffman: “I am a Nigerian and I must say that this incident is really disturbing and any true African would condemn strongly, this shameful display of unprofessionalism by saharareporter’s Omoyele Sowore and Adeola. Hear them saying “we brought change to Nigeria, the change must go everywhere”.
“They have succeeded in dislodging former president Jonathan by instigating tribal and regional disunity in Nigeria using false stories. But please leave the Zimbabwean leader alone, he was chosen by his people. Mugabe’s views of an economically independent Africa is one every African leader should share. He may have his shortcomings but for the sake of Christ, he is a president, an African one for that matter. This makes me really sad about Africa, a continent that is at war.”
Eva Chuba: “Excellent job? She was unprofessional. We should NEVER celebrate mediocrity in Nigeria. She called Mugabe an old man, but is Buhari not old? Ikenna, there is a saying in Igbo, ‘a mother does not throw stones in the market, for fear that it might hit her child’.
“Adeola behaved liked an uncouth criminal. I am disappointed. Initially thought Zimbabweans were over-reacting the way other Africans typically do when it comes to Nigerians. But THIS, nah, DISAPPOINTED.”
Ikenna M: “Whatever, Mugabe did during your inauguration, the fact remains that you invited him. He was your guest and therefore you were supposed to treat him with respect. He did not kill anyone during your inauguration.
“He did not behave badly and so have respect for him”.
Akty Amy: “I am very disappointed with the rudeness of Sahara Reporters to President Robert Mugabe who graciously visited Nigeria to honour the inauguration ceremony of our new president. Your harassment of this important guest to Nigeria is unethical and unbecoming. You need to understand that Nigerians have a culture of honouring and respecting our guests. If you want to interview him then you do it politely as you started doing while he was in the car and he was delightedly answering your questions. You then became rude and disrespectful and he kept quite”.
Blackvolta: “I love how when people talk about the situation in Zimbabwe, they all conveniently omit the fact that the west world have imposed on Zimbabwe crippling sanctions designed to get him out of power but only ended up hurting the citizens. The Zimbabweans know this and that is why they keep voting for him.
“This is the same situation in Iran where they now want to negotiate. Do any of you wonder why a monarchy like Britain can talk democracy? A country like us which supports nothing but monarchies in the Middle East, save your insults and use your brains. Stop believing western media. Sahara shame on you”.
Isaiah Chigayo: “Abacha had a lot to answer for, Babangida had a lot to answer for the list goes on and on so please just keep your mouths shut”.
Nkululeko Mkastos Sibanda: “Who is she to declare that there is no democracy in Zimbabwe? What is the source of her authority? Stupid ignorance she displays. I wouldn’t be careless about respecting Mugabe but to make the bold statements she is making, one has to be an attention seeking fool. She also asks when there will be elections in Zimbabwe.
“Silly question, there were elections in Zimbabwe in 2013. Even Zimbabwean oppositions would testify to that. Whether they were free and fair its not the same question as their happening.
“She asks if there’s a limit to Mugabe’s stay in office. Again another bigoted question, just use the internet for Zimbabwe constitution, you will see that there is such a limit set in the last constitution.
“However, she has a child-like attention seeking approach, thus asks
Philani Mhlanga: “Stand for your own people who are being killed everyday by Boko haram and leave us Zimbabweans alone we never asked for your help”.
M Michels: “It is quite disgraceful and utterly shameful of the Zionist media stooges of Sahara TV. Only idiots really think of Mugabe as some despotic leader.
“He is defending his people, their wealth and dignity while the Nigerian British slaves are absolute sell outs to the British.
“Poor Africa is where courageous people are being attacked for the benefit of the goat-legged Queen of England who has put a demonic spell over Nigeria and its people”.
Brodly Benzion: “This makes me understand well how westerners installed Buhari, Nigeria is in trouble, and the Sowore and Adeola are doing this to get noticed by the US and the west. You guys failed woefully and are disrespectful and unprofessional. Is there any change yet in Nigeria”?
Tinotenda Chemvura: Ever asked questions about how the Nigerian government failed to manage the Boko Haraam crisis?
“There are hundreds of girls still missing. Fix the log in your eye first and quite unprofessional if you ask me
Online Reporter