Mbalula accused of ‘laughing’ at Zimbabwe protest violence

Entertainment commentator and blogger Phil Mphela was outraged over what he saw as Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula “laughing” at the situation in Zimbabwe.

Mbalula had posted a picture of protestors in Zimbabwe running from a policeman, who appears to be trying to kick them.

One of his followers responded by removing the policeman from the image and Photoshopping him onto a soccer pitch, where it looks like he is about to kick a ball.

Mbalula’s response – several laughter emojis and the words “that was quick” – show he was clearly amused by the work of his follower.

READ MORE: Police brutality in Zimbabwe now ‘worse than’ under Mugabe

This upset Mphela, who expressed the view that the situation in Zimbabwe and initial photo shared by the minister show the dehumanisation of black people, and that this should not be seen as “an opportunity to make a joke”.

When the person who made the Photoshop ‘joke’ posted a screenshot of Mphela’s tweet expressing outrage, Mbalula’s response showed he was not overly concerned at the backlash.

“Clowns are everywhere,” he said.

Mphela responded, telling the minister his Twitter behaviour “looks bad” and that he must “step up”.

“If having a modicum of integrity and empathy towards my fellow black people makes me a clown, I wear that like a badge of honor!” he tweeted.

This is who we have become…

Where our fellow black people are dehumanized we see an opportunity to make a joke!

Literally as it is happening! And a Minister is laughing. Why not even wait a week-nyana. Wow.

Black child you on your own!

Aluta continua ✊🏿. #FreeZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/1w2emGeoix

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 16, 2019

This looks bad. Optics matter. A minister laughing at a post making fun of what is happening in #Zimbabwe looks BAD. Step up Sir!

If having a modicum of integrity and empathy towards my fellow black people makes me a clown, I wear that like a badge of honor! #FreeZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/LwEFC2VUDl

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 16, 2019

A tad distasteful Min because this represents the dehumanizing of fellow black people but 🤷🏾‍♂️

This policeman was not kicking a ball but a fellow humanbeing!

With all the heart wrenching images that accompany this Lesedi photoshopped joke is real trauma#FreeZimbabwe #democracy https://t.co/v0QEVf0Kfu

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 16, 2019

You are right. I am very emotional. Those images coming from Zimbabwe are heart breaking. Im curious why people like you dont think black lives are worth your empathy.

Then again, we were raised differently.

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 16, 2019

Check his reaction to it. He laughed. This publicly endorsing the joke. That is unbecoming of a Minister. Especially when the situation in Zimbabwe is ongoing.

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 16, 2019

Don't get it twisted. Nobody cares whether YOU laugh or not. You are a nobody. You can jump on top of taxi and laugh nobody will care.

Im addressing a Minister here. Wena sit down!

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 16, 2019

Protests that began on Friday in Zimbabwe are the first since rallies in January against Mnangagwa’s decision to hike fuel prices that ended in deadly clashes with troops.

At least 17 people were killed and scores wounded after the army used force, including live ammunition, to crush the demonstrations.

Amnesty International condemned Friday’s police action saying it demonstrated “just how far the authorities will go to repress dissent”.

The British embassy in Harare said it was “concerned at the images of the heavy-handed response to disperse crowds in Harare”.

US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy called on Zimbabwe’s security forces to “respect human rights and to exercise restraint”.

(Compiled by Daniel Friedman)

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