News from The Zim Daily is that Robert Mugabe's sleek new election campaign is being handled by advertising firm Imago Y&R which is part of Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP advertising agency network. WPP is the world's largest marketing company. The campaign was directed by Sharon Mugabe (believed by the opposition to be Robert Mugabe's cousin), CEO of Imago Y&R,
which is 25 per cent owned by WPP's Y&R arm. This story was initially broken by the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change, but soon found its way into the English press. WPP reacted swiftly with the Financial Times reporting that Sorrell ordered the divestment of the marketing group's
interests in Imago Y&R. This
decision followed criticism of UK companies involved in Zimbabwe and
a Financial Times investigation into Imago Y&R's involvement in the
campaign.
The story raises questions regarding the ethics of advertising, and the pursuit of profits above all else. Says The Zim Daily: "Most of these corporate leaders sit in their company headquarters in
London, New York, Los Angeles and Munich, watching the share-price
while preaching the doctrine of “Corporate Social Responsibility”. In
truth, they are complicit with Robert Mugabe in raping Zimbabwe."
