20 thoughts on “Finally”

    1. Spaghetti Hoop

      A rare tree, and probably a rattlin’ one given the news.

      A murdering monster of a man. But he did have a point about the white colonial farmers in Zimbabwe.
      Strange relationship with the Brits, during and post-independence.
      No statement of condolence from the Aras yet for Comrade Mugabe. Too busy grooming his dogs no doubt.

  6. Batty Brennan

    Not convinced by your tag for this item, Broadsheet.

    You know the whole “ebagum” trope originated with the uber bigot “comedian” Jim Davidson? He of the hilarious “Oirish jokes” where every paddy was a stereotype stupid drunken navvy? That and his “Chalky White” act were the staple of little minded little Englanders for many a year.

    He’s not for recanting, either:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTPNsvABGFk

      1. Batty Brennan

        Forgive me, but I fail to grasp whatever point it is you are attempting to make.

        Walden attributes the term “ebagum” to “Carringtonese for Mugabe”. Carrington was as far from being a Yorkshireman as it was possible to be. Walden similarly was not of Yorkshire stock.

        The meeting at which the term Walden claims the term was used took place in November 1979 while Carrington was Foreign Secretary to the first Thatcher government.

        Davidson was by 1979 well established as a popular racist comedian, amongst the vulgarian English, at least.

    2. Bodger

      Batty, Ebagum is Mugabe spelt backwards and sounds like ‘eeh-by-gum’ a term for surprise in Yorkshire dialect. I spotted that when I was around 12 without the help of Mr Davidson.

      1. Batty Brennan

        Yes, Bodger. I’m well aware of that. “Nicknick” Davidson adopted it as a racist trope, although you personally may not have been aware of it.

          2. V

            Batty
            Not Barry

            Oppps

            Appleogies Batt

            (If I ever publish that buke you’ll know why Barry was my auto-prompt)

  7. TheQ47

    A quote from Heidi Holland’s 2008 book, “Dinner with Mugabe: The Untold Story of a Freedom Fighter Who Became a Tyrant” probably sums up Mugabe best:

    “The story of Robert Mugabe is a microcosm of what bedevils African democracy and economic recovery at the beginning of the 21st century. It is a classic case of a genuine hero—the guerrilla idol who conquered the country’s former leader and his white supremacist regime—turning into a peevish autocrat whose standard response to those suggesting he steps down is to tell them to get lost. It is also the story of activists who try to make a better society but bear the indelible scars of the old system. Mugabe’s political education came from the autocrat Ian Smith, who had learnt his formative lessons from imperious British colonisers.”

  9. Slightly Bemused

    Sadly, his replacement is worse. The Crocodile is living up to his reputation. He was Mugabe’s right-hand hatchet man, and learned from him. Now, the pupil is exceeding the master.

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