African viewpoint: September's kings

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe (L) chats with King Mswati III during the annual Reed Dance at Ludzidzini, the royal palace in Swaziland August 30, 2010. Who is giving advice to whom?
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African Viewpoint

* Farai Sevenzo: Return to Harare
* Fight for the dead
* 'Rogue trader'
* Colonial crimes

In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, Zimbabwean filmmaker and columnist Farai Sevenzo considers the difference between kings and presidents.

September. How we all love to remember September, or can't get away from her many memories.

Some dates in September refuse to recede into the distant past and keep popping up in one macabre anniversary or another.
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The lion king only has to roar and his police force dutifully arrest and deport trade unionists, journalists and troublemakers”

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Reaching back we can learn that this is the month in which Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in Ethiopia on 12 September 1974; that General Jan Smuts died on 11 September 1950 of a natural old age while his compatriot Steve Biko was brutally murdered on 12 September 1977; that in this auspicious month 16 September saw the abolition of slavery in all French territories in 1848.

But in this 21st Century, September's dominating date is one Tuesday morning when religions collided in two skyscrapers over America's city of migrants. All other dates, for now, must take a back seat.

And so last week was dominated by a man in Florida threatening the mad act of burning the Koran to commemorate the mad act of 11 September 2001.

September is also the month of the birth of the kingdom of Swaziland.

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