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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 10 2012 23:23 | LAST UPDATED Feb 10 2012 23:23 |
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President Jacob Zuma hit back at Britain's media on Wednesday, saying disparaging commentary on his polygamous private life reflected an inbuilt superiority complex. Zuma, who is paying a state visit to London, has been greeted by headlines in Britain's famously spiky press labelling him a "buffoon" and focusing on the husband-of-three's domestic arrangements. In an interview with the Star, Zuma said that the coverage was disrespectful of his Zulu culture and echoed the views of South Africa's former colonial masters. "When the British came to our country they said everything we are doing was barbaric, was wrong, inferior in whatever way ... I don't know why they are continuing thinking that their culture is more superior than others," he said. Zuma said that the African National Congress (ANC) had fought against the apartheid regime so that the indigenous population of South Africa would be respected. "Bear in mind that I am a freedom fighter and I fought to free myself, also for my culture to be respected," he said. "I've not looked down upon any culture of anyone ... and no one has been given an authority to judge others." Colourful private life Much of the coverage of Zuma's visit has focused on his colourful private life. Zuma married his latest wife in January, shortly before it emerged that he had fathered a love child with the daughter of a family friend. An opinion piece in the right-wing Daily Mail said, "Jacob Zuma is a sex-obsessed bigot ... So why is Britain fawning over this buffoon." The Daily Telegraph said that "for all the colourful characters who have visited the Palace during her 58 years on the throne, the South African president is possibly the first guest to be a polygamist".  CONTINUES BELOW Zuma meets Queen Elizabeth II and British Prime Minster Gordon Brown later on Wednesday in a reception at Buckingham Palace. Dreamland Meanwhile, the ANC Youth League was disgusted by the British media's reports on Zuma, a spokesperson said. Floyd Shivambu said the British media seemed to have developed a habit of rubbishing Zuma and constantly portraying him as barbaric and of inferior belonging. "It is quite apparent that the British media is one that is characterised and defined by the worst form of barbarism, backwardness and racism," said Shivambu. "These British racists continue to live in a dreamland and sadly believe that Africans are still their colonial subjects, with no values and principles." -- AFP, Sapa TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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 Fighting back: President Jacob Zuma hit back at UK's media on Wednesday following coverage that he felt was disrespectful of his Zulu culture. (AP) Client Media Releases
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