On 25 June, almost two weeks after public concerns that a WPP Group company was carrying out advertising work for dictator Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party were first raised, we found WPP still dissembling.  Only after a delay of TWO WEEKS did an official statement about this business relationship appear on the Group's website.  So much for their claims that they acted immediately.

In the statement, WPP said they would dispose of their interest in Imago Y&R but gave NO timetable. In the meantime, the sham election has come and gone.  The company has banked the commissions and fees for conceiving and placing the advertising, which has sort to portray the tyrant as a kindly uncle determined to keep Zimbabwe 100% independent. 

WPP's slick, defensive press release only serves to raise more questions than it answers.

Friends of Zim calls on WPPs CEO Sir Martin Sorrell and Chairman Philip Lader to tell the truth and answer the following questions.  Clever corporate-speak is not enough.

WPP statement on Zimbabwe

25 June, 2008
 

WPP shares the world's outrage at what is happening in Zimbabwe.

What outrage do you mean Sir Martin?  Why do you not condemn Mugabe and the Zanu generated violence?

We were therefore extremely alarmed by the allegation last week that a firm in which we hold a minority interest (25%) through Y&R and over which we have no legal control, may be advising Robert Mugabe and his political party. This could never happen with our knowledge or approval and we investigated the situation as a matter of urgency.

We have now established that a senior member of the management had been advising President Mugabe in a personal capacity.

Why do you not name this person?  Is it not Sharon Mugabe your CEO?  If not her then who?  What action has been taken against them?

 Nonetheless we want no association with this effort.

In whose name was the billions in advertising placed?  Isn't it true - as we have been told - that the advertising was booked by your company Imago Y & R under its name on behalf of Zanu (PF)?  How much has been earnt in commission and fees from this client?  Will you donate your profits to a charitable organisation helping victims of the violence and dislocation in Zimbabwe?

WPP's board and management have established clear guidelines for our operating companies on clients for which we are prepared to work. The Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe is not an acceptable client in accordance with these standards.

Can you guarantee that you have done no work for any agency of the regime including government departments and instrumentalities?

The decision to divest Y&R's minority interests in Zimbabwe was proposed earlier this year and we are working to ensure this is completed as soon as possible.

Why won't you put a date on it?  You allege your own interest is only 25%, why not walk away today (WPP could afford to do so)?

Note: WPP Group CR Policy on human rights is: "WPP companies will uphold the principles contained in the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation's fundamental conventions on core labour standards."

OBITUARY:  The Death of Thabo Mbeki's Credibility  (1999 - 2008)

To paraphrase the late British Parliamentarian Enoch Powell; All political careers end in failure'.  What we are witnessing as the Zimbabwean election drama reaches its conclusion, are the desperate death throes of President Thabo Mbeki's credibility and with it, his political career.  Over the past couple of years, Mbeki's career has suffered a number of health scares.  In December last year, he was defeated in his attempt to be re-elected as the head of his party, the ANC.  The election of Jacob Zuma as the new head of the party makes him the odds-on favourite to become the next president of South Africa, and turns Mr. Mbeki into a lame duck.

With little or no authority domestically, Mr. Mbeki has only been left with foreign affairs as his final arena to redeem his career and go out with a victory.  Central to that foreign policy has been serving as the SADC negotiator in the Zimbabwean crisis.  However, Mr Mbeki has found himself more and more isolated as country after country in the region steps up to condemn the violence being perpetrated in the name of Mr. Mugabe's presidential re-election campaign.  He is now almost alone in the region, in not condemning yesterday's farce as either illegitimate, out-of-control or simply a sham.

Early this week, his South African government failed in its attempt to scupper a statement of condemnation by the United Nations Security Council, which for the first time singled out the ZANU-PF regime for committing the violence.  Then, the South African President raised astonishment when he ignored an invitation by the SADC regional meeting called to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe.  As Thabo Mbeki was rebuffing his partners in SADC, he was himself being rebuffed by his erstwhile colleague, Robert Mugabe.  Mbeki had hoped to bring the Mugabe and the leader of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai together to negotiate a settlement to the impasse.  Instead, he finds himself ignored by the former and distrusted by the latter.

As the chorus of has grown calling for Mr. Mbeki to either step aside or share the position as the negotiator for SADC, further ignominy was been poured on the South African President, this time by his own party.  The ANC broke their long association with ZANU-PF and condemned them for turning their backs on their revolutionary principles and committing violent acts against their people.  With less than a year remaining in his term in office and all these events collapsing around him, Thabo Mbeki has little if no time to resuscitate his severally incapacitated political career.  As the last rites are written, death looms in the graceful shadow of Mandela.  The death of credibility, the end of political relevance.