Grace Mugabe criticized for 'bragging' about hitting British photographer

Published: 2013 June 18 07:37:38 (5016 Views)

Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe told South African television host Dali Tambo that she had "chased and pounded" a British photographer.

Some Zimbabweans and analysts have expressed shock and also said it was unfitting for someone who is supposed to be a role model.

"They saw us and started running towards us. I said, 'No, enough is enough, why are you treating us like this? What wrong have I done?'

"I noticed that one of my bodyguards was talking to a man holding a camera," she said.

"He told me that they were arguing because the photographer was refusing to give back pictures he had been taking of me and the children."

"What he didn't know is that I am a sprinter. ... So I ran after him and I caught him. I started beating him. He was pleading with me to get the camera, please, I didn't answer so I kept on punching him. I did not listen to him and continued beating him up."

McDonald Lewanika, a civil society activist and academic, said the First Lady's bragging rights were shocking.

"The behaviour is shocking and needs to be condemned, taking pride in the act is not only shameful for a lady in such a position but disgraceful," Lewanika said. "One wonders what kind of a lesson she intends to teach us and our kids as the mother of the nation.

"Violence in any form — whether in politics, in the home or on a street in Paris as a way of solving disputes has no place in modern society."

Kumbirai Mafunda, a media practitioner, said her behaviour was unbecoming of a public figure.

"As much as I understand the First Lady's concern about her right to privacy when it comes to journalists' scrutiny, she must not never forget that she is a public figure, whether in Harare, Zvimba, Guatemala or even in Mars," he said.

"Naturally, any assault of media practitioners is not something that this lowly newspaperman would celebrate just in the same way that I will not justify an attack on a politician or his or her wife."

The First Lady claimed she ran after the photographer to protect her children and as a protest against British sanctions which she said hurt her children's education.

The President interjected, saying she would have done more to do away with the "annoying" photographer.

Nhlanhla Ngwenya, the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwean chapter director, said the First Lady's remarks was reflective authorities' attitude towards cases of violence against the media.

"It is actually shocking that someone in authority could brag about being violent with the media," he said.

"Now, we understand why no action has been taken against such cases.

"I think she could have approached the responsible authorities if she felt violated, the journalist was just doing his job and I don't see anything wrong.

"The fact that the president interjected and backed her is a bit worrisome. I think it went past normal."

- DailyNews

Tags: GraceMugabe,

Comments

Anonymous user 2013 June 18 15:55:38

Why is she so proud of ‘This’?? This is NOTHING to be proud of!! She should be ashamed of her actions. What a spiteful, vindictive and violent attack!! And from a woman too??? !!! Shocking!! I would question her mental health?? Are all Africans like this?? She acted like trailer-trash, or a goat butting someone… She showed herself up, for goodness sake!! Doesn't she realise this??!! If not, it proves even more how completely ignorant she really is to be so juvenile and belligerent! She acted like a peasant! Like a spoilt immature child who couldn’t get her own way!!! A complete and utter embarrassment to society and an utter complete fool! Where have we ‘ever’ seen any lady of rank with class, elegance and refinement, or royal blood-line, [for example; like Michelle Obama, or Princess Diana], run after someone and beat them up in public in full view of all, like a common low-life criminal, or street thug?? AND arrogantly brag about it, as if she should have some kind of an award for it??!! So bizarre!! ??... And for some very strange odd reason she seems to boast about her being a sprinter as if she has a gifted talent??!! What a clod!! All she has done has shown the world how malevolent she is, and how coarse and uncivilized, and ill-mannered she really is. She said that she ran after the photographer to protect her children [did he have a gun? Was he menacing and threatening her children?] No, he was not! She also said that it was also as a protest against British sanctions which she said ‘hurt her children's education’ [well, it certainly didn’t stop her children shopping with her in Paris though… not many ‘uneducated kids’ have the pleasure of shopping in Europe while enjoying a luxury holiday overseas… so why worry about their education if they can shop in Paris while their own people in Zim are starving and jobless??!!]… And you just ‘DON’T’ beat people up for this!! You just DON’T BEAT PEOPLE UP! PERIOD! She’s a real ‘Trooper’ isn’t she as a ‘role model’ for Africa, Africans, and her own children?! I wonder how far would she have really gone beating this innocent man up?? This is ‘NOT’ Africa lady, its not ‘The Bush Tribunal’… this is ‘Paris’ where civilized, classy people live and shop. She’s a silly woman, who doesn’t even know how foolish she has made herself and her family look with this nasty idiotic attack! She has NO CLASS whatsoever and obviously doesn’t have a CLUE?? Let her stay in her bizarre vulgar world of ignorance and bullying ways, while the rest of us can have a good laugh at her lunacy!! :o)

Grace Mugabe criticized for 'bragging' about hitting British photographer

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