Mugabe’s spokesman studied in Southend
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| Quiet - Bright Matonga |
A ZIMBABWEAN who lived and studied in south Essex is now running the public relations campaign for dictator Robert Mugabe.
Bright Matonga, 41, who lived in Billericay and Laindon, studied for a degree in media at South East Essex College, in Southend.
Mr Matonga, who lives in Zimbabwe with his wife, is in charge of spin for the regime, which has been accused of abusing human rights and election rigging.
He married Anne Pout, an English woman who worked as an IT manager at Essex County Council, in 1997, and moved into her Billericay home.
They bought a house in Wraysbury Drive, Laindon, where they lived for a few months, before moving to Zimbabwe in 2001.
Anne Matonga, as she is now named, reportedly helped him carry out one of the notorious evictions of white farmers in 2002.
Mr Matonga was a "quiet and friendly" neighbour, according to people in Felsted Road, Billericay.
Shirley Begg, 62, who lives two doors along from his former home, spoke of her shock at seeing Mr Matonga speak for Mugabe on TV.
She said: "It is horrible and I could not believe it.
"At the time I liked them both.
"He was very quiet, but would always smile. Anne was a friendly neighbour. I was very shocked by her actions and don't know what came over her, it was very sad."
When Mr Matonga left the UK in 2001 he spoke fondly of his seven years in Britain.
He now calls the UK "bloodthirsty" and accuses it of trying to overthrow Mugabe by "hurting the economy" with "illegal sanctions".
In 1994 Mr Matonga came to the UK and enrolled on a media production and technology course at South East Essex College, Southend.
Half-way through the four-year program, the UK tried to deport him, after a change in rules for foreign students meant he was no longer eligible to stay.
Then Southend East MP Sir Teddy Taylor persuaded a tribunal to let him remain.
Sir Teddy told the Echo: "He was a nice guy.
"I was aware of his politics at the time, but he always told me the administration was not as bad as people think and the other parties were just as bad."
He said he was surprised how far through the ranks Matonga had climbed, but added: "I hope he can have some influence on Mr Mugabe and tell him to get some more sensible people to take over."
Before going back to Zimbabwe in 2001, he had worked for the BBC World Service.
The college put out a press release before he left saying the former student was to head the ZBC1 and 2 television stations back home, which it called the equivalent of the BBC.
12:00pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Tony Winchester, W-O-s on 12:16pm Tue 13 May 08
Mr Matonga, who lives in Zimbabwe with his wife, is in charge of spin for the regime, which has been accused of abusing human rights and election rigging.
Wow was a Labour supporter aswell'
Anne Matonga, as she is now named, reportedly helped him carry out one of the notorious evictions of white farmers in 2002.
Yep i guess they were labour supporters or maybe Conservatives as theres not much difference and Teddy Taylor thought he was a nice guy,Then again i guess they would do.
Mr Matonga, who lives in Zimbabwe with his wife, is in charge of spin for the regime, which has been accused of abusing human rights and election rigging.
Wow was a Labour supporter aswell'
Anne Matonga, as she is now named, reportedly helped him carry out one of the notorious evictions of white farmers in 2002.
Yep i guess they were labour supporters or maybe Conservatives as theres not much difference and Teddy Taylor thought he was a nice guy,Then again i guess they would do.
Posted by: The Vicar, Basildon on 12:35pm Tue 13 May 08
When it all goes badly wrong for Mr. Matonga in Zimbabwe how long do you think it will take for him and his wife to plead asylum to live back in "bloodthirsty" Britain? :)
When it all goes badly wrong for Mr. Matonga in Zimbabwe how long do you think it will take for him and his wife to plead asylum to live back in "bloodthirsty" Britain? :)
Posted by: Dan, North Leigh on 1:22pm Tue 13 May 08
Haha, I hope SEEC use his example in their next prospectus.
italic]"Great futures start here!"[[/italic]
Haha, I hope SEEC use his example in their next prospectus.
italic]"Great futures start here!"
Posted by: ian beale, rochford on 1:45pm Tue 13 May 08
wow, the possibilities really are limitless with South EastEssex College!
They should use this in their marketing.
wow, the possibilities really are limitless with South EastEssex College!
They should use this in their marketing.
Posted by: Patrick McKenna on 2:40pm Tue 13 May 08
The point to emphasise about Matonga is his despicable hypocrisy. He said in his farewell interview with South East Essex College that this bloodthirsty country made him the man he is. Read it to believe it: http://www.southend.
ac.uk/news/news-arti
cle.asp?article=20
The point to emphasise about Matonga is his despicable hypocrisy. He said in his farewell interview with South East Essex College that this bloodthirsty country made him the man he is. Read it to believe it: http://www.southend.
ac.uk/news/news-arti
cle.asp?article=20
Posted by: A, Essex on 3:23pm Tue 13 May 08
Old Mugabe had a farm, Zimbab Zimbabwe.
Old Mugabe had a farm, Zimbab Zimbabwe.
Posted by: Kim Gandy, Rayleigh on 6:24pm Tue 13 May 08
[quote][bold]The Vicar[/bold] wrote:
When it all goes badly wrong for Mr. Matonga in Zimbabwe how long do you think it will take for him and his wife to plead asylum to live back in "bloodthirsty" Britain? :)[/quote] Not long. He'd be housed, shod, fed and clothed too, if he fell on hard times.
This country is the pawn shop of Europe. Takes anything, violent criminals, paedophiles, terrorists, illegal squatters; so why not a dictator's mouthpiece?
If we can house Muslim hate-mongerers and their multi wives and keep them in all the goodies they need, how much more will some British-trained foreign spin doctor fare.
Perhaps this government will put him in charge of Human Rights and racial equality.
The Vicar wrote:
When it all goes badly wrong for Mr. Matonga in Zimbabwe how long do you think it will take for him and his wife to plead asylum to live back in "bloodthirsty" Britain? :)
Not long. He'd be housed, shod, fed and clothed too, if he fell on hard times.
This country is the pawn shop of Europe. Takes anything, violent criminals, paedophiles, terrorists, illegal squatters; so why not a dictator's mouthpiece?
If we can house Muslim hate-mongerers and their multi wives and keep them in all the goodies they need, how much more will some British-trained foreign spin doctor fare.
Perhaps this government will put him in charge of Human Rights and racial equality.
Posted by: Tony Winchester, W-O-s on 11:00pm Tue 13 May 08
Kim hun i think we already got one he goe's by the name of P@hillips i think.
Kim hun i think we already got one he goe's by the name of P@hillips i think.
Posted by: lupop on 11:25pm Tue 13 May 08
[quote][bold]A[/bold] wrote:
Old Mugabe had a farm, Zimbab Zimbabwe.[/quote] Crisps!
A wrote:
Old Mugabe had a farm, Zimbab Zimbabwe.
Crisps!
Posted by: Dan, North Leigh on 10:02am Wed 14 May 08
One of the shortest posts ever by Kim!
One of the shortest posts ever by Kim!
Posted by: optimist on 10:24am Wed 14 May 08
[quote][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]The Vicar[/bold] wrote: When it all goes badly wrong for Mr. Matonga in Zimbabwe how long do you think it will take for him and his wife to plead asylum to live back in "bloodthirsty" Britain? :)[/quote] Not long. He'd be housed, shod, fed and clothed too, if he fell on hard times. This country is the pawn shop of Europe. Takes anything, violent criminals, paedophiles, terrorists, illegal squatters; so why not a dictator's mouthpiece? If we can house Muslim hate-mongerers and their multi wives and keep them in all the goodies they need, how much more will some British-trained foreign spin doctor fare. Perhaps this government will put him in charge of Human Rights and racial equality.[/quote] You don't like Britain much do you. Always talking it down, always complaining. What a shame.
Kim Gandy wrote:
The Vicar wrote: When it all goes badly wrong for Mr. Matonga in Zimbabwe how long do you think it will take for him and his wife to plead asylum to live back in "bloodthirsty" Britain? :)
Not long. He'd be housed, shod, fed and clothed too, if he fell on hard times. This country is the pawn shop of Europe. Takes anything, violent criminals, paedophiles, terrorists, illegal squatters; so why not a dictator's mouthpiece? If we can house Muslim hate-mongerers and their multi wives and keep them in all the goodies they need, how much more will some British-trained foreign spin doctor fare. Perhaps this government will put him in charge of Human Rights and racial equality.
You don't like Britain much do you. Always talking it down, always complaining. What a shame.
Posted by: Anonymous, Southend on 4:26pm Wed 14 May 08
How were SEEC to know that this guy would be the mouthpiece for Mugabe? The best futures do start at SEEC. They did for my friend who has Down's
How were SEEC to know that this guy would be the mouthpiece for Mugabe? The best futures do start at SEEC. They did for my friend who has Down's
Posted by: unkown, benfleet on 4:30pm Wed 14 May 08
i blame the government! We seem to "invite" any Tom Dick or Harry to the UK with our great policy on accepting any wayward from outside the UK. The sooner the Immigration laws are tightened the better! When will that be???
i blame the government! We seem to "invite" any Tom Dick or Harry to the UK with our great policy on accepting any wayward from outside the UK. The sooner the Immigration laws are tightened the better! When will that be???
Posted by: tazvitya, hre on 12:24pm Thu 15 May 08
[bold]bold[/bold] when he left for uk he had impregnated a young girl and up to now she has his baby,i dont know if he still remembers
when he left for uk he had impregnated a young girl and up to now she has his baby,i dont know if he still remembers
Posted by: JR, Mozambique on 6:55pm Sat 17 May 08
The man is a waste of space, he used the Uk to further his education, left pregnant women behind him with no responsability to them,married a woman that probably deserves him. Hopefully the Uk will keep the personal sanction on him and deny him entry to the UK. Let him rot in a New Zimbabwe jail with his wife the farm grabber.
The man is a waste of space, he used the Uk to further his education, left pregnant women behind him with no responsability to them,married a woman that probably deserves him. Hopefully the Uk will keep the personal sanction on him and deny him entry to the UK. Let him rot in a New Zimbabwe jail with his wife the farm grabber.
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