Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister, Kirsty Coventry, has derobed herself by being involved in assisted farm grabbing.

A report in the British Times (UK) bemoans how Coventry has now accepted a prized farm from Mugabe’s vicious successor.

The article suggests that her medals may end meaning nothing.

Her medal hauls in 2004 (a gold, silver and bronze) and 2008 (a gold and
three silvers) gave Zimbabwe fleeting international recognition for something other than its bellicose dictator. Even Robert Mugabe, who by then had turned viciously on his white citizens, was moved to label Ms Coventry “our golden girl” as he rewarded her with bundles of cash.

The piece quotes a friend who has distanced themselves from Ms Coventry since she moved into government saying her acceptance of contentious land, like many other ministers before her, would mark her
downfall.

“Kirsty was an inspirational, iconic figure but she has ruined her legacy in
a few short years. She has now trapped herself in this corrupt and cruel regime. If she wants to keep her farm she will have to stay loyal. Farms are taken away as easily as they are given. We cannot take her gold medals away from her — those were thoroughly deserved — but she has lost the
special place millions of Zimbabweans had for her in their hearts.”