Mugabe hijacks Big Brother frenzy 'for political gain'


Zimbabweans feel Munyaradzi Chidzonga was cheated of victory on the reality TV show
Political analysts have criticised Zimbabwe's 00,President Robert Mugabe for handing over $300,000 (about £191,000) to the runner-up of Big Brother Africa.

Munyaradzi Chidzonga narrowly lost out to a Nigerian contestant, who won the reality TV show's $200,000 prize money. A close Mugabe ally started a campaign to raise the $300,000 as many people felt voting on the show was unfair.


Analyst Takura Zhangazha told the BBC Mr Chidzonga's fame had been hijacked for political purposes.

'Mascot'
The BBC's Brian Hungwe in Harare says there has been a strong sense of injustice amongst Zimbabweans that their Big Brother housemate was robbed of final victory in the final of the Mnet show on Sunday.

He received a hero's welcome at Harare airport on his arrival home on Wednesday and was immediately whisked off to State House, he says.

Later that evening, state television showed footage of Mr Mugabe handing over the $300,000 cheque, a third more than Mr Chidzonga would have got had he won the show in which contestants are voted off by viewers.

It is being presented as some anti-Mugabe conspiracy by Mnet and the West”

"From our point of view, for us, you were the winner," AFP news agency quoted Mr Mugabe as telling the Big Brother runner-up, who later said he was grateful and surprised by the handout.

Mr Zhangazha said it was all part of a Zanu-PF ploy to appeal to young middle-class voters, ahead of elections which could be as early as next year.

"They want to spin Munya's declared admiration of President Mugabe as evidence of the latter's reach to younger Zimbabweans," he said.

"They will use Munya as a mascot at rallies."

His loss has also been spun by Zanu-PF into the anti-sanctions debate, said Mr Zhangazha.

"It is being presented as some anti-Mugabe conspiracy by Mnet and the West."

Mr Mugabe has been sharing power with rival Morgan Tsvangirai under a deal - worked out after disputed 2008 elections - in order to halt their country's economic collapse.

But last week he expressed his frustration about constant wrangling within the coalition government, saying the lifespan of the political accord had reached its end.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11609963

This is what Politics can do to a nation. How I wished same was done to Ofuneka, when it was presumed she was robbed a couple of years ago.

those zimbos are crazy

for crying out loud,BBA is jut a game!

na wa for anti-nigerian sentiment.

why would he win, How many people in that country could have access to internet facility under His government.

tpia@:

na wa for anti-nigerian sentiment.

Pray where is that? The guy is looking for straws to catch in order not to sink politically. Sad.

houvest:


Pray where is that? The guy is looking for straws to catch in order not to sink politically. Sad.

not the first time anti-nigerian sentiment will show up on bba.

other places nko?  same thing.

mygee33:

why would he win, How many people in that country could have access to internet facility under His government.

They do not consider that, rather, they think one-sided.

A friend who called in from SA said, one needs to see how Zimbabweans viewed the whole stuff. In fact, they even went to an extent of scorning Nigerians in their country.

http://www.zbc.co.zw/news-categories/entertainment/3655-munya-wins-big-after-bb-disappointment-.html


I laughed so much when I read this. In fact, it was more laugh when I read comments from the same subject matter from the site above from Zimbabwean Broadcasting Corporation .

Nigerian is runners-up, big news!. Nigerian is a winner! Bigger news!!. To Zimbabwean. NO, something when wrong!
Why would people never see the game aspect of it first, before the gains of a nation?

written by fifi, October 19, 2010
UTI MIGHT HAVE WON IN THE EYES OF NAIJA,FACT REMAINS HE IS A SELF CENTERED slowpoke,WHO BELIEVES HE CAN LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS.SAYING KAONE IS A WAIST OF SEMEN YAACK DEFINITELY NOT A ROLE MODEL FOR MY KIDS.HE CAN GO AND ENJOY THE MONEY IN CROOK LAND.MNET MUST TAKE THEIR SHOW TO NAIJA IN 2011.MUNYA GREAT THINGS AWAIT YOU SON OF THE SOIL!


This must really be a frustrated Zimbabwean! I hope Newspaper is no longer sold for $1 billion Zimbabwean Dollars in that country, else that could could be the origin of his frustration and not BBA All stars winner.

Abeg, make una leave Brother Mugabe alone . Even Jonathan would have done same to score cheap political point.
This period and any other place in the world, once it gets to election year, money flows (even when there is restriction on spending).


As for Newspaper going for $1billion Zimbabwean dollar!, I bow oh!

.

Zimbabwe's government is barely standing and they want to give Munya $300,000 for becoming a runner up. There is something wrong with the African Pysche. What would possess you to do something like that?

$300k ko, $500k ni

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/showbiz-3588-Munya%20may%20have%20last%20laugh/showbiz.aspx

abeg abeg abeg,