News / Local
Anti Mugabe Poem: We are sorry says Bulawayo Agenda
14 Oct 2011 at 16:28hrs | Views
BULAWAYO Agenda made a public apology to an anti-President Robert Mugabe protest poem recited by an upcoming poet during the Ideas Festival: Women's Discussion Forum held at Ntumbane Hall today arguing that it was unaware that its content was insultive to President Mugabe.
The poet, Abel Phiri had said in part:
"Robert Gabriel Mugabe
"President Wezigamba
"Bread and butter you promised
"The only butter we got was button sticks on our butts," he recited.
Soon after the poet left the stage, Lucia Masekesa of Masvingo Agenda who was chairing the deliberations made a public apology on behalf of the organizers saying:
"We are very sorry for that poem. We did not know that it was insulting the President.
"We had not looked at the content of the poem," said Masekesa.
However delegates at the event castigated the civic society outfit for double standards arguing that it has always been an anti-Mugabe movement and suddenly it sees fault in protest poetry.
"How can they apologize on behalf of Mugabe, whose interests do they serve," said a lady who only identified herself as NaDudu. Another delegate added:
"It is shocking that Bulawayo Agenda is now against protest poetry at a time when it also acts up as the forum for it." Efforts to get an official comment were fruitless.
The poet, Abel Phiri had said in part:
"Robert Gabriel Mugabe
"President Wezigamba
"Bread and butter you promised
"The only butter we got was button sticks on our butts," he recited.
"We are very sorry for that poem. We did not know that it was insulting the President.
"We had not looked at the content of the poem," said Masekesa.
However delegates at the event castigated the civic society outfit for double standards arguing that it has always been an anti-Mugabe movement and suddenly it sees fault in protest poetry.
"How can they apologize on behalf of Mugabe, whose interests do they serve," said a lady who only identified herself as NaDudu. Another delegate added:
"It is shocking that Bulawayo Agenda is now against protest poetry at a time when it also acts up as the forum for it." Efforts to get an official comment were fruitless.
Source - Byo24News
