Mugabe bootlicking reaches scary levels

via Mugabe bootlicking reaches scary levels – DailyNews Live 23 February 2015

HARARE – Ministries, businessmen and State media have gone into a mega bootlicking frenzy, praising President Robert Mugabe who turned 91 on Saturday.

As a result, analysts said it now appeared treacherous for people associated with the government to ignore the president’s birthday — judging by the spectacle involving obsequious  bigwigs over the past few days.

The bootlicking has also alarmed a State media columnist who uses the pen name Bishop Lazarus but believed to be one of Mugabe’s top aides.

In a piece headlined, Of fake Gushungo adverts, Bishop Lazarus said most of the bootlicking statements were fake and meant to hoodwink Mugabe.

“The adverts congratulating the president for his 91st birthday keep coming and as your poor Bishop I have just been wondering whether indeed all the companies that have wished the president many more years really mean it.

“Do all the companies and all the people who have spent thousands of dollars wishing the president many more years genuinely love and support the president? I know, dear reader, you are asking yourself: Has this poor bishop gone bonkers or what?”

And amidst the high-decibel praise-singing frenzy, Zanu PF youths also now want February 21 turned into a national holiday, to be marked by the nation forever.

A dotting nonagenarian Mugabe might be, but to his admirers he is not only “fitter than two fiddles”, he is apparently also like wine that gets better with age.

“Age ain’t nothing but a number. No better advert for this than Mdara 2day @ 91. Here’s to Gushungo! The older he gets, the fresher his ideas,” gushed Information minister Jonathan Moyo on twitter.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa also outdid himself in his praises of Gushungo, telling State media at the weekend that, “He is a very consistent man … He is a very careful listener”.

In all the messages of praise, Mugabe is portrayed as a paragon of virtue and an infallible human being who never puts a foot wrong.

Phillip Chiyangwa, who now claims that Mugabe is in fact his brother, (it used to be said that he was the President’s nephew) penned a somewhat incoherent piece published by State media over the weekend claiming that Mugabe was not moved by money.

In the piece, Chiyangwa dismally failed to explain how exactly he is related to Mugabe.

“My brother is a socialist. He is not a money man. Those who try to impress him using money and material things will find him unmoved,” the controversial businessman who was once arrested for spying said.

“That is just who he is—a socialist. He regards highly those who create conditions for others to flourish. When you discuss matters, he can look through you in an instant.

“His mind is like a computer, he analyses you straight away, even before you start talking up to the point you finish. This is the kind of gift he has,” the “king” of selfies added.

Almost all State parastatals and government ministries have flighted adverts in the media and on ZTV, brown-nosing Mugabe on the occasion of his birthday — and more is probably coming when the 21st movement holds its ginormous bash in Victoria Falls at the weekend to celebrate the life of Gushungo.