Zimbabweans online are mocking [2]a new statue of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe designed by a popular Zimbabwean sculptor Dominic Benhura [3].
The 92-year-old president has been facing street protests [4] and sustained anti-government campaigns on social media [5] by citizens frustrated by corruption, unemployment and cash crisis. The mocking of the statue is seen as an extension of internet-based opposition to his continued stay in power — he has served as president for 30 years now.
Lance Guma envisioned the future of the statue when Mugabe falls:
Good thing Dominic #Benhura [6] made this ugly statue of #Mugabe [7]. Citizens will enjoy knocking it down when he falls. pic.twitter.com/vQswJS5cH8 [8]
— Lance Guma (@LanceGuma) September 10, 2016 [9]
Twitter user Asura suggested that a dictator needs to have a better statue:
Seriously Mugabe,if your gonna be a dictator demand only the best statues to showcase you megalomania #MugabeStatue [10] pic.twitter.com/g4giqhakh3 [11]
— Asura (@ClivePilusa95) September 10, 2016 [12]
The next statue will probably be designed by a non-Zimbabwean, @ali_naka suggested:
Mugabe doesn't trust ZIM doctors, he will no longer trust ZIM sculptors after getting abused in this manner #MugabeStatue [10]
— African (@ali_naka) September 10, 2016 [13]
Mugabe is known for traveling to Asian countries for medical treatment.
Another user compared the statue to one of the characters from American animated sitcom The Simpsons: [14]
Man made Mugabe look like a Simpsons character😂😂😂😂 #mugabestatue [15] pic.twitter.com/oMEIhnq6OS [16]
— future millionaire (@_vxlery_) September 11, 2016 [17]
African jokingly said the statue is “sculptor terrorism”:
This statue is UnAfrican – Mugabe is a victim of Sculptor Terrorism pic.twitter.com/OEbEkiUr9y [18]
— African (@ali_naka) September 10, 2016 [19]
@chimurengamusic quipped:
Mugabe's statue story tells us abt how his appetite for being hero worshipped has backfired. He gets lively at evry praise sign. Now watch
— Dr. Thomas Mapfumo (@chimurengamusic) September 10, 2016 [20]
Mduduzi thought it was a miracle that the statue was approved:
We credit ‘effort’ in any endevour, but Benhura's statue of President Mugabe is so hideous it's a miracle it was approved
— Mduduzi Mathuthu (@Mathuthu) September 10, 2016 [21]
The sculptor, Dominic, did not survive the mocking:
The native who did the #MugabeStatue [10] will heading for exile very soon
— African (@ali_naka) September 10, 2016 [22]
The poor chap is probably at Chikurubi prison by now #MugabeStatue [10] pic.twitter.com/UPk8BgUlDH [23]
— Public Protester (@Pasco_e) September 11, 2016 [24]
Chikurubi is a maximum security prison in Harare.
Grace Mugabe, the first lady, was not spared either:
I have no idea. Grace might have created this. Matches her dress sense 😂😂 #MugabeStatue [10] #ThisStatue [25] https://t.co/RW9FQmbyYp [26]
— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) September 10, 2016 [27]
Apparently, the first lady dressed for misdirection:
When u know the sculpture ugly so you ask yoyr wife to dress uglier just to confuse the haters😎 yolo #MugabeStatue [10] pic.twitter.com/sV3FnuH5y2 [28]
— SIX (@Nomie_fied) September 11, 2016 [29]
And what about a ring for each finger?
I showed my sister the picture of Mugabe's statue and the first thing(s) she noticed was the fact that the lady is wearing 10 rings.
— P.Sigenu (@PSigenu1993) September 14, 2016 [30]
In this photo [31], the first lady appears to be wearing a ring in all her 10 fingers.
Kgopolo Phil Mphela, however, came to the defence of sculptor Dominic Benhura:
#MugabeStatue [10] debacle is unfortunate but Dominic Benhura is a talented African sculptor. Abstract art!! pic.twitter.com/lWY4xqcxUh [32]
— Kgopolo Phil Mphela (@PhilMphela) September 11, 2016 [33]