Alaina Varvaloucas and Jerry Guo, special for the Pulitzer Center
Alaina Varvaloucas and Jerry Guo traveled to Zimbabwe in December and January
Johannesburg—If you're worried about being abducted by your interview subject, that's a sign the guy's worth talking to. We ran into Gideon Gono, Zimbabwe's notorious central banker and arguably Robert Mugabe's right-hand man, in Johannesburg as he was conducting business meetings at the Hyatt.
Called "Mr. Inflation" by some for his out-of-control printing of trillions of worthless Zim dollars, Gono seemed like a larger-than-life figure. But in person, he was charming and friendly, breaking into laughter at random and signing a $100 billion note that he printed a few months ago—the bill already had his signature on it.
He was quite happy to chat, and we talked for three hours before he left for his daily workout with his security contingent. Whether you see him as Dr. Evil or a Bernanke wannabe, Gono certainly delivers the (tragically comedic) party line. The transcript of our interview is online at Newsweek and will be coming out in the Feb. 2 international edition.
UPCOMING REPORTS FROM ZIMBABWE
Frontline/World in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center and The Washington Post will publish and post new material from a Zimbabwean journalist from Harare this weekend. The journalist's identity is being withheld for her continuing safety. The material includes an extensive article at the The Post and a Frontline webcam interview and will be made available late Saturday (the article will appear in Sunday's Washington Post).
Alaina Varvaloucas and Jerry Guo traveled to Zimbabwe in December and January
Johannesburg—If you're worried about being abducted by your interview subject, that's a sign the guy's worth talking to. We ran into Gideon Gono, Zimbabwe's notorious central banker and arguably Robert Mugabe's right-hand man, in Johannesburg as he was conducting business meetings at the Hyatt.
Called "Mr. Inflation" by some for his out-of-control printing of trillions of worthless Zim dollars, Gono seemed like a larger-than-life figure. But in person, he was charming and friendly, breaking into laughter at random and signing a $100 billion note that he printed a few months ago—the bill already had his signature on it.
He was quite happy to chat, and we talked for three hours before he left for his daily workout with his security contingent. Whether you see him as Dr. Evil or a Bernanke wannabe, Gono certainly delivers the (tragically comedic) party line. The transcript of our interview is online at Newsweek and will be coming out in the Feb. 2 international edition.
UPCOMING REPORTS FROM ZIMBABWE
Frontline/World in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center and The Washington Post will publish and post new material from a Zimbabwean journalist from Harare this weekend. The journalist's identity is being withheld for her continuing safety. The material includes an extensive article at the The Post and a Frontline webcam interview and will be made available late Saturday (the article will appear in Sunday's Washington Post).