Lies from Noynoy’s Handlers

Posted on | February 25, 2010 | 2 Comments

According to this email forward, a sumptuous mansion featured in a series of attached photographs belongs to President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. The email claims that while Mugabe lives in such opulent luxury, the ordinary people of Zimbabwe face poverty under his leadership.

However, the mansion depicted in these photographs is not Mugabe’s residence at all. In fact, the very same set of photographs has also circulated in protest messages decrying the opulent lifestyles of other political leaders and celebrities. One version claims that the home belongs to President Pervaiz Musharraf of Pakistan. Another claims that the mansion is the home of former Nigerian ruler Ibrahim Babangida. Yet another version suggests that the photographs show the home of former Secretary of Health Care of Azerbaijan, Russia. And, finally, many references, including a YouTube video, claim that the home belongs to Bollywood superstar, Shahrukh Khan.

In fact, all these claims are false. The mansion in the photographs is actually a home located in the wealthy community of Bell Air, Los Angeles. The mansion is available as a location for film, television and commercial shoots and is featured as such on the website of location manager, Toni Maier. Thus, there is no truth in the story that the mansion in the photographs belongs to Mugabe. And, in any case, an ariel shot of Mugabe’s partially completed mansion in Harare shows a building quite different to the one depicted in these photographs.

Some commentators have claimed that the mansion belongs to Mugabe’s cousin Philippe Chiyangwa. However, this claim is also untrue. News photographs of Chiyangwa’s mansion show a residence with a different style and aspect than that of the mansion shown in the above photographs.

Although the photographs do not show Mugabe’s residence, various news reports indicate that, for several years, he has been building himself a lavish mansion while a great many of his people live under terrible conditions. The controversial leader also has other luxurious residences. A 2003 report in The Guardian UK notes:

Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, is building a lavish palace costing £3.75m on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.

Furnishings and security are expected to send the cost to more than £6m at a time when nearly half of Zimbabwe’s population is dependent on international food aid.

Its sprawling accommodation includes 25 bedrooms with bathrooms and spas. It is three times the size of the president’s official residence, State House, and his adjacent offices.

The mansion, located in the upmarket Borrowdale Brooke area, about 15 miles north of the city centre, is nearing completion. The construction company Energoproject, based in Belgrade, is building the palace.

Mr Mugabe has built smaller mansions in Harare and Zvimba, his birthplace, as well a Chivu, the birthplace of his wife, Grace.

And newzimbabwe.com notes: THE Harare City Council has embarked on a multi-billion-dollar project to widen two roads which form a link to President Robert Mugabe’s mansion in Helensvale, a report in the Zimbabwe Independent said.

Major civil works have already started to widen Carrick Creagh and Borrowdale Brook roads which link the mansion to Crow-hill Road

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