Mugabe's motorcade hits homeless man; nations call for action

President Robert Mugabe's motorcade has run over and seriously injured a homeless man this week, leading to a storm of international protest across the globe.

"I mean, we all know that he has caused the deaths, torture, rape, wrongful imprisonment and beatings of countless others, but this really takes the cake," said South African resident Thomas Machimba.

The United Nations has reacted to the news with shock.
"We're really disappointed. We made him International Ambassador of Tourism, and this little incident has made us suspect that we maybe made the wrong decision," said UN General Secretary Rita Arded.

Many nations, including the USA, have called for international intervention.
"When we heard about this, we were outraged. I mean, I had rallied up a battalion of ten thousand men, F-25 fighter jets and B-52 bombers, but then my personal assistant reminded me that there's no oil in Zimbabwe. Under the current circumstances, we just don't think it's our place to get involved in the governance of foreign states," said US Minister of Foreign Affairs and Oil Reserve Acquisitions, Fred Manse.

Even the South African government has been unusually critical of Mugabe's hit-and-run.
"We called them and gave them a really good telling off," said ANC spokesperson Kwiet Deplomasce.
"We know that this is the most outspoken we've ever been on Zimbabwe's government, and we really think it'll make ripples."

However, amidst reports that the hit was accidental, a source close to the motorcade staff has said that the  accident may have come as a result of miscommunication.
"Going to a funeral? Oh, I thought we were going to cause a funeral. My bad," said one of the drivers.

At first, the Zimbabwean government met the reports with stoic denial.
"There is no official report. I know this, because I burned it myself," said Minister of Proganda, Finius Goering.

However, the president's official spokesperson has since come forward saying that, "they were aware of a slight bump on the road."
"At first we thought it was a pothole, but only after we realised that we hadn't fallen into a six-foot-deep crevasse, we started to think maybe something was wrong," said the president's spokeperson, George Hitenrun.

The Zimbabwean Republic police has declined to make an official comment, referring all calls to the President's office. "He speaks for us anyway, so you might as well save yourself some time," said Police Commissioner Johnathan Erestemall.

Mugabe's motorcade usually comprises police escort bikes, state security vehicles, police vehicles, his 1-million-dollar ZIM 1 limousine and Land Cruiser trucks full of heavily armed soldiers. His motorcade is regarded as one of Africa's longest: almost as long, in fact, as a list of Zimbabwe's human rights violations printed in font size 0.01 with half-spacing.

Despite claims that the president was not contrite, spokesperson for the ZANU-PF has released a statement denying these "lies" vehemently.
"We're either very happy or very sad. Right now we're not sure if he was a member of our long-lived struggle, or a whitey-loving, pro-Tsvangirai, Blair-worshiping agent of Rittle Engrand. We're waiting for him to wake up, and then we'll make the choice between having a hero's celebration, or charging him with attempted murder," he said.
"His stepping in the way of our 18-car, bullet-grenade-and-RPG-proof, multi-million dollar motorcade could have seriously jeopardised our president's safety. I mean, the homeless, malnourished man weighed almost 50kg!"

However, the spokesman was firm in his denial that they had ignored him and left him to die.
"We did no such thing. We actually sent two police cars to arrest  escort him to prison hospital. Right now he is recovering with all possible luxuries in our state-of-the-art Chikurubi rest and relaxation facility."

The President himself has since vowed to take more caution when travelling the country.
"From now on, we will simply fly around the country in flying motorcade of nine G7 private jets, three B-79 Flying Fortresses and eight F-35 Lightning fighter jets. We simply cannot endanger our citizens."

SABC bans xenophobic ad

The controversial advert from well-known restaurant chain, Nandos, has been banned from being aired by the national broadcaster, said the SABC in a press statement this morning.

"With fears of how people will react to it, we just don't want such an advert this highly disseminated in the public sphere," said head spokesperson John Sensa, "except, of course, all over Twitter and Facebook and the rest of the internet and the news and blogs and foreign television services."

The SABC has since vehemently defended its decision.

"We would never want to spread adverts that contain shocking, offensive or, god-forbid, thought-provoking material or ideas. Especially if they aren't making us any money. We prefer safe, non-head-scratching entertainment, like episodes of Friends that even your mother thinks are outdated."

The SABC believed that, much like with issues of corruption and failing public services, not addressing the issue was a far more effective campaign.

"If we show the advert, we are afraid that we'll make the problem worse. We think it better to just not show it. If we just stay quiet, we're sure that the problem will sort itself out, especially with our country's migrant labour policies, unemployment, current immigration and refugee policies, inequitable housing policies, the problems with identification documents, corrupt policing, the proliferating informal urban settlements, competition for scare resources, crime, and our disconnected government that no longer listens to the anguish or comprehends the anger of millions of people living in poverty," he said.

"If we show it, it may create a problem almost as large as our yearly overdraft."

When asked why they were opting for a 'white elephant' approach, the SABC defended itself.

"We would never use such an approach. The SABC is tolerant and diversity-minded. We prefer the 'non-racially-charged-or-ethnically-marked-politically-correct-pachyderm' approach," said Sensa.

The SABC has always had a rich history of family-friendly, inoffensive advertising.
Almost as rich, in fact, as their history of bailouts.

However, CEO of SABC, Winida Bailout, has defended their decision, saying that the Nandos advert "trivialises xenophibia".

"Besides," he said, "there are other, more important problems to worry about, like that painting of Zuma."

When asked whether he knew that the painting had been defaced and the issue settled, he shrugged.

"We're the SABC. According to us, Ross is still fighting to make Rachel see his true feelings."

Many civilians have praised the SABC's swift action.

"I was really worried for a second there that I would have to watch it and make up my own mind about it. You know how much we lay people hate critical thinking," said George Chimbetu.

"I'm glad they censored it," said another man. "I actually had my axes and assegai sharpened and ready, and I was just waiting for one silly advert to set me off."

Many more have reacted to the decision with anger.

"Typical. We South Africans make one advert and all these foreigners get offended. We aren't xenophobic at all, and if they don't like our adverts then they should go back to their home countries," said one local man, Kenneth Ofobea.

Since the decision, both M-Net and DSTV have jumped on the bandwagon.

"We already show Desperate Housewives, Jersey Shore and My Super Sweet 16," said media sales representative Jane Erikson. "We're worried that this advert might cement our image as broadcasters who are uncaring about the plight of the most marginalised classes in South Africa."

Meanwhile, Professor of History and Migrancy studies Thomas Reedabok has branded the advert as "historically incorrect."

"Following theories of evolution and migration, the Khoisan man should have actually disappeared as well. If Nandos wanted to empirically represent Africa's most original native dwellers, they should have instead displayed a single prokaryotic bacterium saying 'you found me here' in corresponding subtitles."

Nandos was unable to comment on the matter. "We have received complaints to the advert and we are working on a response to be released sometime in the next few days," said HR rep James Makapun.

"We just can't say anything until we've thought of a clever pun or advert highlighting our reaction."

Zuma releases prisoners

A storm of excitement erupted at Pollsmoor Prison as 28 women and 60 juvenile males were released as part of President Jacob Zuma’s 10-week early remission programme. These are just a few of the 35 000 offenders who are going to benefit nationwide, said SA Correctional Services spokesperson, Letya Loose.
"The decision was made in light of the legacy of Nelson Mandela on this memorable day," he said.
Loose said that by the end of the program, they hope to have freed at least one society-changing, barrier-breaking, mind-changing political prisoner.
"We're more than just a little positive that at least one of them isn't such a bad guy," he said.
More than 14 600 inmates will be released in the next few weeks and a further 20 855 on parole and probation will be freed early.

The remissions were announced as a bid to alleviate prison overcrowding. This programme is set to reduce overcrowding from 34 percent to about 20 percent.
"We are sick of having our cells very overcrowded. It would just be a nice change to have them just plain overcrowded," Pollsmoor Prison Warden, Lucky Yahup.

Many prisoners, however, have met the proposal with heated opposition.
"I went to jail in 2006. Mbeki wasn't screwing everything up, fuel was still pretty cheap, and the CPI wasn't ridiculous. Now there is corruption, Mdluli is in charge of the police, and crime is through the roof. Prison has protected me from thousands of criminals since I came here!" said one prisoner.

Other prisoners have been outraged at the sudden programme. "All I did was steal a goat. If I had known that they would release me so quickly, I would have stolen at least a car or a watch," said inmate Gotye Stuuf.

"I got free food everyday here," said another, "what do they expect me to do once I'm out, get an honest living?!"

The programme has not only received warm reviews; criticism to its aims has been scathing.

"My crime syndicate has operated untouched and has been profitable for many years, and I'm not even talking about my illegal taxi business," says Minister of Public Spending, Robbin Hugh. "If they release all these people, I will have to contend with competition, not just with my taxi company, but also my position as a Minister."

Many other politicians have aired similar fears. "Half of those prisoners are more qualified than half of us MPs," said one unnamed source. "I mean, they probably passed their Woodwork course! How do I contend with that?"

Some politicians, however, have been overjoyed.
"I think it's great. I'm gonna see so many of my old friends, and this also means that if, one day, by some ridiculous stoke of misfortune the justice system actually works and convicts me of something, I'll be out much sooner than expected," said Minister of Finance, Emma Bezzlement.


However, criticism to the movement has been met with swift action by the newly-formed South African Prisoners Union.
"We feel that prisons are directly in opposition to our Constitutional Right to Freedom," he said. "I mean, racists get freedom of speech, why shouldn't we criminals get freedom from prison?"  said SAPU spokesperson John Picket.


Nevertheless, in the cities many civilians have been troubled by the programme's goals.
"There is going to be a big crime wave, just you wait and see. I'm already prepared: I've installed an alarm system and a giant electric fence to protect my old electric fence and alarm system from theft," said Sandton resident Gregory Turner.

In reaction, Loose has been quick to alleviate South Africans' fears of crime.
"We aren't releasing any violent criminals or anyone with weapons-possession charges," he said,
"just normal criminals."

However, sources close to the president have suggested that the decision was taken not in the spirit of freedom day, but rather in the spirits. 
"Umqombothi can be pretty strong stuff these days," said one unnamed source.

However, the Presidential Office has been quick to debunk those rumours.
"The President in no way or form touches alcohol. Every president that South Africa has had in the past few years have been upstanding figures who detest drunkness. Drunk people do stupid things, like appoint Mogoeng Mogoeng as Chief Justice, remove Willie Hofmeyr as head of the Special Investigating Unit, and disband the Scorpions. Oh, wait, on second thoughts: 'No Comment.'"

United Nations to review ambassadorial selection policy

This week, Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, was made the United Nation's Ambassador of International Tourism, a decision hailed by many as "the smartest ever since Napoleon invaded Russia".

Director of the Ambassadorial Selection Committee, Mr Wong Choyse, says that the decision has come too late."I look back and I think of all the other great leaders we could have put into UN Ambassadorial positions of power, and I'm sad, because they're no longer with us. As Ambassador of Diversity and Ethnic Tolerance, we could have had Adolf Hilter, or Idi Amin."

However, Choyse said that the decision had sparked a wave of reform in the selection committee.
"The board has opened up to consider many other African leaders for suitable positions in the UN. For example, Joseph Kony is being considered for UN Ambassador for Childrens' Rights. We think that the children will react very positively to him, because his name sounds kind of like 'cone', like an ice-cream."

The decision has also led to a surge of applications from leaders around the world.
Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has put forward his name for Ambassador for Gender Equality.
"I believe that I am as qualified to fulfill this role as Mugabe is to fulfill his as Ambassador of Tourism. After all, I'm a man, which means I'm already twice as qualified as any woman."

However, the call has been met with much criticism. Omar Al-Bashir, President of Sudan, was one of the first to raise his voice in protest.

"What has he done that I haven't?," he said, slamming his skull wineglass on his table of bones.
"It's unfair that he should get a title while i'm ignored."

Teodoro Obiang Nguema, President of Equatorial Guinea, has also added his voice to the complaints.
"It's such an affront to my dignity. All I can do is just sit in my palatial mansion with nothing but my billions to soothe my bruised pride."

The ANC Hipster League have reacted by calling the United Nations, "a bunch of outdated, outmoded copycats.
"We have been putting the wrong people into important positions of power before it was cool," said spokesperson Django Gulliver.

However, a source close to the electoral council has told reports that the decision was just a case of "broken telephone." "When the the president was being discussed, one of the elective committee members put forward a possible position, but the Director misheard. It wasn't supposed to 'tourism', but actually the International Ambassador of terrorism," he said.

However, Director Choyse has been quick to debunk those rumours.
"There's no way we would ever consider making anyone Ambassador of Terrorism," he said reproachfully.
"That position has already been filled by Hasan Izz-Al-Din of the Hezbollah, though we've had difficulty getting in contact with him since his minor misunderstanding with the FBI in 2001."