Mugabe hands Olympic medalist $100,000 cash reward

[jetsetter]

HARARE (*******) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Friday handed the country's only Olympic medalist in Beijing a $100,000 cash reward for her performance at the games.

Swimmer Kirsty Coventry smashed the world record to win gold in the women's 200 meters backstroke. She also captured three silver medals.

Mugabe handed the U.S-based swimmer the cash at a ceremony in Harare carried live on state television.

"Our national spirit must exude joy and pleasure and say you have done well, daughter of Zimbabwe. We are proud of you, we wish you well. She's our golden girl ... take care of her," he said at the ceremony.

The U.S. dollars, scarce in a country struggling with an economic crisis marked by a severe shortage of foreign currency, were carried in a briefcase by Zimbabwe's central bank governor.

Other members of Zimbabwe's Olympic team received between $2,000 and $10,000 each.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2043/20080829t123714450x340uxf4.jpg

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080829/sp_nm/olympics_zimbabwe_coventry_dc_2


Interesting. Considering all the crap spouted by Mugabe I am surprised he handed over the cash to this particular woman.

[JVeld]

Good for her !

[BugHunt]

I wonder if he handed her US $$ or several dumptrucks of Zim currency....

Wouldnt that much also bankrupt his state?

[Rudolph]

Hate( not really) to be the one to say it, but the only gold medalist in a country with only like 5,000 whites left...... Mugabe must have been swearing under his breath.

[digrar]

I imagine no one wanted to be there, it wouldn't be her proudest moment either.

[Dinges]

Bob is just trying to buy his way back into the international fold by being a perceived benevolent statesman. It is all lights and mirrors and a couple of bucks.

[Douros81]

I wonder if he handed her US $$ or several dumptrucks of Zim currency....

Wouldnt that much also bankrupt his state?


Thats just mean. Good for her.

[tyovan]

So is she using her spotlight to do anything for the people of Zimbabwe, or does she just plan on taking her $100,000 back to the US while good ol' benevolent Bob beats the opposition and runs the white farmers off their lands?

[Atlantic Friend]

Hate( not really) to be the one to say it, but the only gold medalist in a country with only like 5,000 whites left...... Mugabe must have been swearing under his breath.

Well, she's his very own Jesse Owens.

[Rudolph]

Well, she's his very own Jesse Owens.

At least Mugabe shook her hand, unlike that Austrian back in the day. ;)