Web surfers are flocking to an internet spoof website that claims to be the home page of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
The Bob.co.za site has had more than 307 000 visitors since it was registered in South Africa in 2002.
It has categories such as ”My Love”, ”My Leaders” and ”My Self”, and claims to be authored by the 83-year-old politician, who has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
A foreword on the opening page states: ”I know you love your leader as much as you love your country. I know you deserve to see what kind of a man I am. To those of you that already know me, this will simply be a joyous refresher of your cherished memories of me.”
Visitors to the page are able to vote in a mock presidential poll, in which only 12% of respondents say they believe Mugabe, who is determined to stand for re-election next year, is doing a good job.
A few visitors appear to have been duped — among them, a commentator writing in the East African Standard this week who appeared clearly to believe that the site really was Mugabe’s personal spot in cyberspace.
The real Mugabe is unlikely to be amused by the site. Criticising him in Zimbabwe can lead to prosecution and a jail term under the country’s tough security laws. — Sapa-dpa