Zimbabwe - The BBC & other UK media fixated with it's political developments, versus the rest

[Yossarian]

The BBC and other mainstream UK media appear to be fixated far more with the political developments in Zimbabwe, as opposed to the politics in other British ex-colonies / British Commonwealth countries. Never mind the likes of Pakistan or Nigeria, even Indian politics, and Modi's election, received nowhere near as much attention in the British media as Zimbabwe is getting now.

Many news bulletins lead with the latest situation as regards Mugabe, whether he's going or not, and only Trump's election campaign received greater attention of foreign politics from the British media.

Why is this? After all, Zimbabwe is just another ex-British colony amongst many dozens of others, has a relatively small population of around 16 million, does very little trade with the UK, and is not even a member of the Commonwealth anymore.

Even it's white population has declined to less than 30,000, or approx 0.2% of the whole population.

Can anyone explain this?

 

[Donal Cozzie]

I reckon its due to the sheer longevity of Mugabe's reign, this being the first time Zimbabwe will be free of him and the hope that a once flourishing nation may be reborn now that the architect of its collapse is on the way out.

With countries like India and Pakistan they're so turbulent generally it probably wouldnt garner as much excitement or attention. I mean Modi being elected is great but hardly exciting stuff compared to a dictator being booted out by the military.

 

[Pakistanian]

It's cause most of the white people in Zimbabwe are British, they're just lookin out for their tribe.

 

[CricketCartoons]

It's cause most of the white people in Zimbabwe are British, they're just lookin out for their tribe.

This. They are just concerned about Kiplings' burden.

 

[Yossarian]

It's cause most of the white people in Zimbabwe are British, they're just lookin out for their tribe.

This. They are just concerned about Kiplings' burden.

From the OP.

Even it's white population has declined to less than 30,000, or approx 0.2% of the whole population.

 

[CricketCartoons]

From the OP.

Probably a concept you haven't understood. For example, Israelis were known to release hundred of prisoners to secure release of one of their own. And here it is around 3000. The masters ruling the UK are still concerned about one of their own, no matter what the percentages say.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Completely agree with the above

Two members of my tennis club- are south African - thr asking will the south African people do same the with zumba

 

[Yossarian]

I reckon its due to the sheer longevity of Mugabe's reign, this being the first time Zimbabwe will be free of him and the hope that a once flourishing nation may be reborn now that the architect of its collapse is on the way out.

Cannot disagree with you more. If it's just to do with longevity and an African leader who's about to be deposed, then there's been plenty of such cases with hardly a peep from the UK media.

Here's a couple of such examples. And there's plenty more. I'm sure you've probably never heard of some of them. And yet even today there's been wall to wall coverage on BBC News Channel and Sky News about Mugabe's will he/ won't he. Even being the lead story ahead of all the Brexit goings on in the Cabinet.

BURKINA FASO’S BLAISE COMPAORE

Compaore came to power after a bloody 1987 coup that killed the West African nation’s revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. After ruling for more than 27 years, Compaore tried to amend the constitution to seek another term in office. Faced with a popular uprising, he was forced to step down in 2014. He fled into exile and is now living as a citizen of Ivory Coast. Human rights groups want him extradited to face justice for several murders he is accused of during his reign, including that of Sankara.

GAMBIA’S YAHYA JAMMEH

Jammeh took power in 1994 in a bloodless coup, ruling the tiny West African nation for more than 22 years. His regime was accused of overseeing human rights abuses to silence opponents. In a stunning turn of events, Gambians last year elected opposition coalition candidate Adama Barrow, who was forced to wait in neighboring Senegal during a weeks-long political standoff until Jammeh finally flew into exile in Equatorial Guinea with his family and close aides. Jammeh has not been heard from since.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...a10ed11ecf5_story.html?utm_term=.664133a99051

 

[Yossarian]

Probably a concept you haven't understood. For example, Israelis were known to release hundred of prisoners to secure release of one of their own. And here it is around 3000. The masters ruling the UK are still concerned about one of their own, no matter what the percentages say.

What you on about? And where does this 3,000 come from in relation to Zimbabwe? Are you trying to spout some mumbo jumbo about Zimbabwe having 3,000 white prisoners locked up? Otherwise who's this "one of their own" you're on about? Your post makes no sense whatsoever. You've been reading too many comic books.

 

[James]

Zimbabwe is, or rather was, the jewel of Africa - so it provokes huge interest, emotion and debate. The mainstream western media and political / societal elites also still harbour hopes that Zimbabwe will eventually become the maiden “First World” country on the continent of Africa, especially now that Mugabe has gone, which the aforementioned parties will all be very happy about.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Cannot disagree with you more. If it's just to do with longevity and an African leader who's about to be deposed, then there's been plenty of such cases with hardly a peep from the UK media.

Here's a couple of such examples. And there's plenty more. I'm sure you've probably never heard of some of them. And yet even today there's been wall to wall coverage on BBC News Channel and Sky News about Mugabe's will he/ won't he. Even being the lead story ahead of all the Brexit goings on in the Cabinet.

You left out the last bit of that quote though. In this case there's actually some hope that the once most prosperous nation in Africa can get back on its feet. Burkina Faso and other nations like that just seem destined to go through a cycle of despots. Zimbabwe may well do the same but considering this is the first time that a change in leadership has occurred maybe itll turn out differently.

I also reckon the amount of people in the UK who can trace ancestry to Zimbabwe may have had a role.

 

[Yossarian]

I also reckon the amount of people in the UK who can trace ancestry to Zimbabwe may have had a role.

If you mean the historical family links between Britain's wealthy families and generations of civil service bureaucrats, and the white landowners and bureaucrats who owned and ran Rhodesia, then yes, I would agree with you.

After all they still occupy the upper echelons of the BBC, the Civil Service, and control the strings of power (at least of the Tory party anyway. Just think in terms of who runs/controls the local Conservative Party branches up and down the country, and thus generally chooses the local candidates for parliamentary seats). And oh, also the ownership/management of large sections of the media;

 

[Pakistanian]

Who cares id Rhodesia was once rich, it was an apartheid where native blacks were treated as slaves.

 

[Bewal Express]

Who cares id Rhodesia was once rich, it was an apartheid where native blacks were treated as slaves.

So not much has changed since the locals took over. And in many respects its worse-Oppressed by the white man or oppressed by your own, what would make you more angry?

 

[Pakistanian]

So not much has changed since the locals took over. And in many respects its worse-Oppressed by the white man or oppressed by your own, what would make you more angry?

Oppresed by a white man.

 

[Bewal Express]

Oppresed by a white man.

The oppression by the white man is so bad that people literally cross seas to be get more oppressed by the white man.

 

[Robert]

Here’s the thing.

Zimbabwe under Mugabe is one of the few times since the Arab slave trade where white people were oppressed by nonwhite people.

 

[Bewal Express]

All oppression is bad but when its your own that is doing it, it feels like a betrayal-Its much like a trusted family member stealing from you.

 

[Pakistanian]

Here’s the thing.

Zimbabwe under Mugabe is one of the few times since the Arab slave trade where white people were oppressed by nonwhite people.

Funny you say that cause Arabs are legally considered white in America and for long Europeans have always considered Jesus white despite him being the same race as Arabs lol.

 

[Robert]

Funny you say that cause Arabs are legally considered white in America and for long Europeans have always considered Jesus white despite him being the same race as Arabs lol.

Europeans all consider Jesus to be white do we? All of us?

 

[Pakistanian]

Europeans all consider Jesus to be white do we? All of us?

That's how y'all depict him, the whitewashing of Jesus has been happening for centuries and is deeply ingrained in how everybody imagines him as. Besides that, arabs are legally considered white so I don't buy this victim card you're trying to play. Arabs are just as guilty of white supremacy and share responsibility for the white mans crimes.

 

[Yossarian]

Here’s the thing.

Zimbabwe under Mugabe is one of the few times since the Arab slave trade where white people were oppressed by nonwhite people.

So you're equating the oppression of the types inflicted upon blacks by whites, say throughout the colonial periods, with the 'oppression' inflicted upon whites in Zimbabwe?

 

[Robert]

So you're equating the oppression of the types inflicted upon blacks by whites, say throughout the colonial periods, with the 'oppression' inflicted upon whites in Zimbabwe?

No. Please stop putting racism in my mouth.

 

[Robert]

That's how y'all depict him, the whitewashing of Jesus has been happening for centuries and is deeply ingrained in how everybody imagines him as. Besides that, arabs are legally considered white so I don't buy this victim card you're trying to play. Arabs are just as guilty of white supremacy and share responsibility for the white mans crimes.

Y’all? Untrue. Modern depictions of Jesus show him as an east Mediterranean type, hardly blond and blue eyed.

What victim card am I playing? Do you think I am a white Zimbabwean farmer? Or a Pole in 1600 CE?

 

[James]

So you're equating the oppression of the types inflicted upon blacks by whites, say throughout the colonial periods, with the 'oppression' inflicted upon whites in Zimbabwe?

There was no equating done in the post.

 

[James]

That's how y'all depict him, the whitewashing of Jesus has been happening for centuries and is deeply ingrained in how everybody imagines him as. Besides that, arabs are legally considered white so I don't buy this victim card you're trying to play. Arabs are just as guilty of white supremacy and share responsibility for the white mans crimes.

I agree that the common depiction of Christ in western society is of a white bearded hippy-like character, however “y’all” is a bit of a general remark when there are many of us who are fully aware that he was an Arab.

 

[Pakistanian]

Y’all? Untrue. Modern depictions of Jesus show him as an east Mediterranean type, hardly blond and blue eyed.

What victim card am I playing? Do you think I am a white Zimbabwean farmer? Or a Pole in 1600 CE?

So only blue eyed blonde people are white? Tell that to the Greeks and Italians.

 

[Yossarian]

There was no equating done in the post.

In which case what was the point of bringing up whites being being oppressed by nonwhite people? Furthermore, by most peoples understanding of 'oppression' based upon the colour of someone's skin, the situation of the whites in Zimbabwe doesn't even come close to being 'oppressed'.

 

[Robert]

In which case what was the point of bringing up whites being being oppressed by nonwhite people?

In answer to your question posed in the OP, obvo. To explain UK media coverage of this issue.

Thanks [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION].

 

[Robert]

So only blue eyed blonde people are white? Tell that to the Greeks and Italians.

You are making my point for me.

 

[Yossarian]

In answer to your question posed in the OP, obvo. To explain UK media coverage of this issue.

Thanks [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION].

You're conveniently sidestepping the other point in that post.

Furthermore, by most peoples understanding of 'oppression' based upon the colour of someone's skin, the situation of the whites in Zimbabwe doesn't even come close to being 'oppressed'.

So for you to say "white people were oppressed by nonwhite people." in the context of Zimbabwe is laughable.