Munya appointed diamond ambassador
By: Our reporter
Posted: Thursday, October 28, 2010 1:32 am
ZIMBABWE representative to the Big Brother All Stars, Munyaradzi Chidzonga has lived up to his ‘diamond boy’ status after being presented with a US$20 000 diamond ring and appointed diamond ambassador by an Indian diamond firm.
Just a few days after receiving a whooping US$300 000 from a consortium of local business people who felt he had been given a raw deal at the Big Brother Africa All Stars television reality show, Munyaradzi Chidzonga has assumed the role of a diamond ambassador after being bestowed that honour by head of the visiting Indian business delegation from the Surat Rough Diamonds Sourcing company, Mr Ashit Mehta.
“Giving Munya a diamond ring confirms the diamond ambassador status,” said Mr Mehta.
The diamond boy was presented with a diamond ring worth around US$20 000 by the Indian team as part of the honour of representing the firm.
In his message, Munya expressed gratitude at the honour given to him and urged other youth to effectively participate in the socio-economic transformation of the country.
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“I can’t describe the feeling at the moment. I didn’t expect that such a thing would happen to me. Well, I will do my best in ensuring that I conduct myself professionally in this role I have been given,” Munya said.
The 24 year-old film actor stole the hearts of many BBA followers across the continent with his resilience and exceptional intelligence, typical of Zimbabweans.
Munya had his wish of meeting the President fulfilled when he met Head of State and Government and Commander- in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Robert Mugabe on Wednesday.
Labels: ASHIT MEHTA, BIG BROTHER ALL STARS, DIAMONDS, MUNYARADZI CHIDZONGA
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COMMENT - More proof if any was needed that the BBC's articles on Zimbabwe are written by the MDC (which is really the same as the British Foreign Office anyway). And why can they only mention what President Mugabe has said by quoting the AFP? Is President Mugabe a 'non-person' who only non-BBC agencies are allowed to quote? I say to the BBC: end the demonization now, end the propaganda now, and start doing your job as journalists in a professional way again. I will never understand why the BBC allowed it's reputation to be destroyed for a bunch of Rhodies, or is that the diamond industry? Who does this 'analyst' Takura Zhangazha (SEC,
MISA Zimbabwe) work for? MISA Zimbabwe
has been supported by grants from the NED or National Endowment For Democracy. According to the NED's own website:
According to the NED's own website:
" Media Institute of Southern Africa – Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA) $54,005*
To empower society with information to discuss and make informed decisions. MISA will launch a media campaign focusing on the importance of objective media coverage of electoral processes as well as to provide an alternative voice on the electoral processes and other critical national issues. "
So was the BBC really quoting 'an analyst' or were they quoting part of the NED's sponsored campaign to 'provide an 'alternative' voice on electoral processes and other critical national issues'? I.e., alternative to the Zimbabwean government's point of view?
According to the NED's own website: " Media Institute of Southern Africa – Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA) $54,005*
To empower society with information to discuss and make informed decisions. MISA will launch a media campaign focusing on the importance of objective media coverage of electoral processes as well as to provide an alternative voice on the electoral processes and other critical national issues. " (By the way MISA is no longer listed among the NEC grant recipients on the NED's page - others are. - MrK
Mugabe hijacks Big Brother frenzy 'for political gain'
22 October 2010 Last updated at 19:53 GMT
Munyaradzi Chidzonga Zimbabweans feel Munyaradzi Chidzonga was cheated of victory on the reality TV show
Political analysts have criticised Zimbabwe's 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.
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“Start Quote It is being presented as some anti-Mugabe conspiracy by Mnet and the West” End Quote Takura Zhangazha Political analyst
"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.
Labels: MUNYARADZI CHIDZONGA, PROPAGANDA
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Do not soil Zim for pieces of silver
THE outcry that followed the controversial ending of the reality TV show Big Brother Africa All Stars, and the subsequent euphoria that surrounded the initiative by Zimbabwean businessmen and ordinary people to mobilise resources to give Zimbabwean representative, Munyaradzi Chidzonga, a whopping US$300 000 is instructive, and should serve as a lesson to all who believe badmouthing their country is a meal-ticket.
Twenty-four-year-old Munya proved to be a true ambassador throughout his 91-day stay in the Big Brother Africa House where, at all times, he always had his National Flag handy and never missed an opportunity to give his fellow housemates, drawn from 14 African countries, the true picture of Zimbabwe.
And at a time some misguided elements believe lying about Zimbabwe, and trashing President Mugabe was the in-thing, Munya had no qualms lauding the President as his personal hero and expressing his life-long wish to meet him in person.
Munya’s exploits contrasted sharply with the escapades of one Gamuchirai Nhengu who participated in a reality show called, the X-Factor, in the UK who, upon being booted from the show and facing imminent deportation to Zimbabwe sought to prolong her stay in Britain by claiming that she would face death by firing squad upon arrival in Zimbabwe.
This ridiculous claim from a little-known teenager naturally drew the ire of Zimbabweans at home and abroad who put aside their political opinions to slap the wanton badmouthing of their motherland.
Suffice to say before Gamuchirai’s outburst, she had received the sympathy of many across the board who felt she had been unjustly dropped from the ITV show.
Today, the 18-year-old Gamuchirai faces deportation and has lost the support of her countrymen and women who called her bluff. Her opposite Big Brother number, Munya, is being feted wherever he goes for being true to himself and his country.
The contrasting fortunes of these two youngsters should serve as a lesson to us all. The blame-it-on-Mugabe syndrome does not wash anymore.
In fact we do not think it ever did because the British government only granted those who told tall tales of alleged Government torture and repression asylum to justify its attempted strangulation of Zimbabwe.
And now that the regime change project is in tatters, the “asylum seekers’’ are excess baggage which is why the British Home Office has resumed deportations to Zimbabwe.
The question to be asked is, was it worth it, soiling your country to earn the right to wash soiled British senior citizens?
We urge Zimbabweans eking a frugal, dehumanising existence in the colder climes to return home, tap into the various economic empowerment programmes on offer and help build their country.
The irony of it all is, while some misguided Zimbabweans resorted to lies to stay in Britain, the British hanged on to those lies because they wanted to return to Zimbabwe.
As Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley said, none but ourselves can free our minds. Let’s tell the truth about our country and its people to help undo the damage wrought by the West’s concerted propaganda campaigns that sought to portray our country in negative light.
Labels: GAMUCHIRAI NHENGU, MUNYARADZI CHIDZONGA, NEOCOLONIALISM, PROPAGANDA
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