Zimbabwe: Mixed Reactions to Osama Bin Laden’s Death  · Global Voices
Madalitso Mwando

This post is part of our special coverage The Death of Osama Bin Laden.
The news of the death of “the world's most wanted man” was received by Zimbabwean netizens with mixed reactions. Perhaps the reactions were somewhat to be expected as Osama was killed by the American government, which some Zimbabweans say is responsible for their country's economic hardships, sanctions, imperialism and everything else in between.
Gift Phiri posted on his Facebook wall:
Cheers to Obama for finally killing that terrorist with a long overdue gun shot to the head. Families of those killed in that senseless September 11 murder orchestrated by Osama — including families of journalists who died at Ground Zero I had the honour to meet last year in NY — can finally get some closure.
George Mhembere chipped in with a post on his Facebook wall:
US is just killing everybody looking the same like Osama bin Laden only to contact DNA test.
Reader forums at New Zimbabwe were also awash with reactions. Bishop Tshepanga Mokoena commented:
May 1st 2011…Osama dead. May 1st, 1945 was day they found Hitler dead. MAY..WILL BE A MONTH OF MIRACLES.
Mokoena further warned that:
Please Do Not Let Your Guard Down, By Forgetting Bin Laden Has Thousands Of Followers~ #Pray
Commenting using the local Shona language, Ancestor wrote:
Vatanga imwe hondo mabharanzi aya… [they have just begun another war these idiots].
In a reader forum feed titled “Obama kills Osama Now he'll be re-elected“, Rufus said:
You may hate Obama but one thing for sure, he does get the job done. Now, I hate violence but Osama is a man of violence who has come to the end violently and you have to give the US kudos for a patient, if somewhat frustrating, pursuit of a psychopath. The Americans do not, and I repeat, do make good enemies!
El Joto Mutasa had a strong warning for “despots and terrorists.” He left this message on The Zimbabwe Mail website:
This should be a message to all despots, terrorists, murderers and dictators that they will eventually be held accountable for their crimes. Now focus will move towards the next layer of killers and looters. The Grim Reaper is now looking at Africa. In the end, real justice will prevail.
However, the are skeptical Zimbabweans who want more convincing evidence of Osama's death.
For example, Tsano Tsano was not so impressed by the “evidence” in front of his computer screen. He made his views clear in the comment section of this article:
OK OK OK. If he was really dead why are tthey not showing us the pictures not even vedio . Remember these are the same guys who showed us everything when Saddam was captured up to his time of death. Even Gbagbo they showed his capture pics. Even Jonas Savimbi we got to see his dead body. This is just a publicity stunt. Capture Bin Laden in the wee hours of the morning, barely five hours later America buries him at sea in accordance with Islamic practices. Holy Lord. Come on guys. Pamwe ndini ndiri kupenga. Lets wait maybe we will get to see em pictures.
With so much anger in Zimbabwe because of issues of good governance, human rights, and the crackdown on political opponents, some netizens have for long imagined death as the ultimate equaliser, with a bishop being accused a few years ago of praying for the death of the Zimbabwean president.
Tinotenda Kwaramba tweeted:
breakingnews on Z~TV [Zimbabwe's national television broadcaster] news Osama Bin Laden seen having coffee with President Mugabe n Gadaffi @ a hotel in Harare…
The coming days no doubt will see a deluge of sentiments about the death of “the world's most wanted man” from this part of the world as netizens join in this global conversation.
This post is part of our special coverage The Death of Osama Bin Laden.