Stop Old Mutuals Support for Mugabe's Propaganda Machine

Subject: Withdraw Support for Zimbabwe Newspapers Ltd. and the Mugabe Regime

Dear Mr. Roberts,

After being subjected to years of threats, intimidation, and violence by the dictatorial Mugabe regime, there are few outlets for independent press left in Zimbabwe. State-run newspapers like The Herald have filled the void that remains with reporting that is entirely and unashamedly one-sided. They are run by editorial staff that are so insulated from criticism that they no longer make any pretence of impartiality or respect for freedom of press. The newspapers operated by the state through Zimbabwe Newspapers Ltd. (including The Herald, The Sunday Mail, Kwayedza, The Sunday News, The Chronicle, and The Manica Post) are among Zanu PFвs most vital tools for retaining its place as one of the most infamously corrupt and brutal governments of the last decade.

It has come to our attention that Old Mutual is the second largest shareholder in Zimbabwe Newspapers Ltd. and is thus guilty of directly supporting the Mugabe regime. While the international community, appalled by the actions of the Zanu PF leadership, imposes sanctions on Zimbabwe, your companyвs investment is essentially arming Mugabeвs propaganda machineвthe equivalent to loading bullets into the guns that kill oppositional voices in Zimbabwe. In light of the detrimental effects of forced migration of recent years, we consider your interest in the company a direct attack on the impoverished people of not only Zimbabwe, but also those of South Africa. We are shocked and dismayed that a company with so much to lose, considering its international profile, has chosen to include the Mugabe regime's propaganda newspapers in its investment portfolio.

We demand that Old Mutual publicly withdraw its stakes in Zimbabwe Newspapers Ltd. and openly apologise for an investment that we sincerely hope was an accidental oversight on your part. Should Old Mutual ignore this request, we will be forced to embark on protest actions, and plan to engage as many Old Mutual policy holders as possible.