Inflation in Zimbabwe is so stunningly high -- more than 11 million percent so far this year -- that a box of cereal costs more than 1,000 Zimbabwe dollars, while a teacher's monthly salary is 800 Zimbabwe dollars.
So with an economy that out of kilter, it seems more than a little perverse that President Robert Mugabe handed swimmer Kristy Coventry a suitcase full of $100,000 as a bonus for her performance in Beijing, where she won a gold medal and three silver medals.
"You have done well, daughter of Zimbabwe," Mugabe told Coventry. "We wish you well in life. We should praise her. She is our golden girl. Take care of her."
Coventry lives in the United States. Fortunately for Coventry, the cash she got was in American greenbacks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-30-2008 @ 11:38AM
Nicholas Nickson Mada said...
Mugabe is a big joke in Zimbabwe. I wonder why Grace Mugabe the wife has not taken him to the far East brain specialists who can serioiusly examine the oldman?. If mama Sally was still alive she could have helped this oldman by now.
I don't need to tell Mugabe who to give his money but his own brain must function. His stupid old mafia politics is not just working and is high time he must go back to retire in Zvimba rural home.
Coventry has run away from Mugabe and so all of millions of Zimbabweans. If we do any good we are not doing it for that regime to appreciate because they have denounced the people already. Why buttering Coventry, Zimbabweans, and the rest of the world?. Mugabe is fooling himself and his regime at large.
Zimbabweans are denouncing what the dictator has done to imitate a good leader.
regards
Nick Mada
Zimbabwean US based activist
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8-30-2008 @ 11:33AM
dj kahn said...
She should have thought twice about accepting money from a brutal, murderous thug like Mugabe
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8-31-2008 @ 1:05AM
kingbee.buzzbuzz said...
Wow -- I can't believe Mugabe fell for that old "I have a stash of gold stored in China, and if you wire me $100,000, we can split the proceeds" scam email.
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8-31-2008 @ 10:10AM
JIM K said...
the Paul Harvey side "the rest of the story" is the cash she received is from the tax payers of the good ole U S of A aid approved by our currently "sitting" elected officials in the White House. She should send a thank you card to the American tax payers.
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