US$1 million spent on Mugabe's image

"...GOVERNMENT of Zimbabwe) has blown over US$1 million on a propaganda campaign through a London-based New African magazine in a bid to spruce up President Robert Mugabe's battered image. The campaign is also designed to exonerate government from state-sponsored political violence by the police against the opposition in March, the Zimbabwe Independent has heard.

The secret propaganda war -- to fight negative publicity against government -- is said to be targeted largely at foreign audiences who have of late been shocked by images of bruised opposition leaders after they were brutally assaulted in police custody....

The revelation comes at a time when the country's foreign currency coffers have all but run dry, with government failing to procure fuel, food, electricity or medicines for the poor. "Given the advertising rates at New African magazine, the Zimbabwean government paid over US$1 million for its 70-page sponsored supplement published last month in which they give their side of the story following the clashes between police and opposition activists," a source said....