Analysis

Twitter in stitches over #Mugabewrongspeech

Sthembiso Sithole 16 Sep 2015 08:21

Mugabe appeared unaware he was repeating the same speech he gave during his State of the Nation address on August 25. (YouTube)

The Twittersphere has turned Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe reading a wrong speech into a reason why he should step down. Some sent out hilarious tweets, which led to the hashtag #Mugabewrongspeech trending.

Mugabe delivers wrong speech in Parliament

Mugabe read the wrong speech at the opening of a new session of Parliament in Zimbabwe on Tuesday. He appeared unaware he was repeating the same speech he gave during his State of the Nation address on August 25, when he was heckled by opposition members of Parliament.

According to his spokesperson, George Charamba, the 91-year-old president was not aware he was delivering the same lines.

“There has been a mix-up of speeches resulting in a situation where ...
the president delivered the wrong speech,” said Charamba.

#MugabeWrongSpeech. that awkward moment when the world’s most educated president reads the wrong speech for 25min
— morris jambaya (@morrisAmaru) September 15, 2015

Mugabe was booed and heckled by the opposition while delivering his State of the Nation address last month. This time, Mugabe finished his speech without being interrupted.

@nelsonchamisa,@mdczimbabwe, so all the ‘Honorable’ members had to endure listening to the same thing they heckled?#Mugabewrongspeech
— Nhamoinesu Tinosekwa (@ntinosekwa) September 15, 2015

Tom Eaton thinks Mugabe was not given a wrong speech but …

Robert #Mugabe did NOT read the wrong speech. He is NEVER wrong. He was given the wrong audience possessing the wrong memories.
— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) September 15, 2015

It wasn’t a #wrongspeech , because you people never listen anyway, somethings are worth saying twice!
— Keletso Nyathi (@klassydoc) September 15, 2015

@ProfJNMoyo It doesen’t help being defensive. This is a sign that he is too old and must resign #Mugabewrongspeech
— Mr. X (@wizziekat) September 15, 2015

Zimbabwe’s minister of higher and tertiary education, Professor Jonathan Moyo, who sparked a heated debate on Twitter last month after he posted a tweet ridiculing the South African economy, came to the defence of the Zanu-PF leader. Moyo sent out a series of tweets stating that Mugabe read the wrong speech, but it remained relevant.

Speech was wrong for the day but otherwise right. Facts in earlier speech remain relevant, important & cheerable! https://t.co/8C29sHMDmQ
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) September 15, 2015

Here is Pres Mugabe’s right speech meant to be read yesterday. Big mix up, yes. Big deal, no! //t.co/eV6DdF2FxW pic.twitter.com/My20VYyBjq
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) September 16, 2015

4/8. Opening of Parliament does not depend on whether content of the speech is right or wrong. Content is the prerogative of the President!
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) September 16, 2015

While I wish we’d corrected & finished with it today, fact is the error is admitted & regretted & will be corrected! pic.twitter.com/ttRwWB9Ss0
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) September 15, 2015

He of course recognised it was a wrong speech & opted to get on with it while tweaking it. It was tough! https://t.co/eqsTMlTkka
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) September 16, 2015

According to reports, at least six MPs from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) received a text message from a sender called Death warning them to behave.

A few months ago, a video showing Africa’s oldest leader falling down the steps leading from a podium went viral and trended for days on social media.

Sthembiso Sithole

Sthembiso Sithole is a social media specialist. He recently studied BA Honours in Journalism and Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2014, he obtained his journalism qualification at Tshwane University of Technology. He has achieved so much, and there are tons more he dreams of accomplishing. He has written for The Star, was a blogger for JournTau, worked at SABC as a Digital News Producer and was formerly the Mail & Guardian's social media editor. Read more from Sthembiso Sithole