UK media's Zuma bashing 'racist' - analyst

William Bird, head of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), told Bizcommunity.com last night: “In some instances it is clear that some of the comments in UK media are fundamentally racist and to that extent they should be firmly condemned.

“It is of course a great pity that people choose to focus on a few limited aspects of what is clearly a bigger mission,” Bird added.

Zuma's first state visit to the UK has been overshadowed by British newspapers' ‘harsh' criticism of the 67-year-old leader's polygamous practices who has been called among others, a ‘bigot', ‘buffoon' and ‘former goat herder'.

Bird said those who believe SA journalism's reporting standards are poor should also look at the UK media, which he said face the same challenges.

President panned

The Daily Mail, The Independent, Daily Mirror, Financial Times (FT) and The Guardian have all launched a ‘savage onslaught' on the polygamous president, with FT calling his visit to the UK a ‘comic opera'.

Here at home, newspapers such as The Star and The Citizen have also dedicated front pages to the president's visit, with screaming but coincidental headlines such as ‘Pomp and Polygamy' (Citizen) and ‘Pomp and Ceremony' (Star).

Bird said he was hoping that Zuma will have an opportunity to engage UK media on these issues and hopefully by then a full picture of the mission can emerge.

However, Zuma got no sympathy from Raymond Louw, media rights campaigner and Southern Report editor and publisher.

Louw told Bizcommunity.com: “While the British media commentary on Zuma may have been extreme, it is the penalty a head of state can pay when indulging in the conduct in which Zuma has involved himself.

“South Africa was outraged when it heard of his latest baby out of wedlock, and that was reflected in the media in the country, so it is not surprising that the British media took up the theme, especially when related to a state visit.

Resorting to race card not conducive to ensuring the state visit's success

“As The Citizen has pointed out, however, the response from Zuma requires careful thought and management. The unfortunate use of the race card and references to British colonial attitudes are not conducive to his role in Britain where he is supposed to be intent on selling SA as an investment destination.

Louw added: “As far as extreme and distasteful commentary goes, the quip in Johannesburg's Beeld newspaper on March 4 takes a prize. It shows a smiling Zuma talking to Queen Elizabeth and in a balloon protruding from his mouth saying, ‘Thank you, Elizabeth, but I already have enough wives'.”

Zuma, who is accompanied by his third wife Thobeka Madiba-Zuma and 216 business people, will today hold talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Surprisingly, he did not mention the media criticism in his remarks during the state banquet by the Queen and her husband yesterday at Buckingham Palace.

He said: “This state visit offers us an opportunity to celebrate the friendship and further deepen the ties between our two countries.

“The United Kingdom and South Africa share a long history. We wish to express our deep gratitude to the British people for their generous support to us during the struggle against apartheid.”

So far, the Presidency has stayed mum on the media attacks, and several attempts to get comment from the president's office were unsuccessful.