Letters

Did I hear someone continue the same gospel at campaign rallies throughout the early and mid-80s, claiming to have reversed what stupid King Lobengula had done? Did I hear them say voting ZAPU into power would be like Lobengula back and reselling the country to the British? Did I hear at the same time the opposite camp say that King Mugabe had sold the country to the British in 1980? Did I hear someone say that the 20 000 Matabele and Midlands dwellers perished in the early 80s for that talk?

Did I hear someone in the early 2000s say and sing, “Zimbabwe will never be a colony again?” Did they intend to say, “it will never be a British colony again but a Chinese or other country’s colony?’ Well, one would wonder judging by your weekly reports on the goings on at Chiadzwa; “Zimbabwe Is Now A Colony Again.”

Did I hear someone still using the same old campaign material of the 80s to demonise opposition parties? Did they continue to say anyone trying to unseat them would sell the country just like King Lobengula? Raymond Majongwe sang, “The more things change, the more likely they are to remain the same.” Well, it turns out also that the more they remain unchanged, the more likely they are to change.

While it is convenient to lay the blame on the door steps of our predecessors; the Lobengulas, the British colonialists, the Smiths and the Muzorewas, we should also admit to our own mistakes. King Lobengula was illiterate and may never have attended ‘Sub. A’ or ‘Sub B.’ He was tricked into signing without understanding the print. Had he known the contents of the piece of paper, would he have put on X on it?

Can the same be said and thought about our current kings who have a host of degrees and continue to sell the country to foreigners without anyone raising a finger? Your weekly reports about the goings on at Chiadzwa where defenceless villagers are being evicted for foreign interests illustrate precisely what I am talking about. When we call Zimbabwe our land what do we mean? Dont we mean it belongs to all Zimbabweans regardless of race, colour, creed or social standing?

For instance, if mineral deposits were to be discovered in a certain area; the original inhabitants of that area should not be gotten rid of in the manner that my kinsmen are being treated at Chiadzwa. Instead, they should be given the first preference of being employed as labourers at the prospective mines – given shares in the mines – and be resettled elsewhere if need be. Where is our independence if only our political heavyweights have a say in the distribution of our natural and mineral resources, making sure that only they, their friends and families benefit while the rest remain poor, downtrodden and sidelined? Another Revolution Is Needed. People first! Fatcats Last! ANONYMOUS, by e-mail

Chiadzwa auction for salaries

EDITOR – Zimbabwe will start to recover if the government can implement my idea. My suggestion is that the government should auction part of Chiadzwa and reserve the money to pay civil servants. The money can be used for the salaries for say 20 years. The civil servant salaries will be addressed outside the annual budget for those 20 years.

Considering that 70 per cent of the monthly revenue is going to salaries alone it will be difficult for the government to consider any infrastructure development. The salaries for civil servants will be made to match developing countries like South Africa. The parliament will need to come up with an independent Wages and Salaries regulator so that they can determine that range for wages and salaries for different companies. Different indices can be adopted for different companies taking into consideration their costs.

The government has to slash taxes for companies that comply so that the companies will make the profits. The government will still collect the money on VAT and other taxes as the workers have more disposable income. I do not think even the so-called cool easterly winds or the well-known warm westerly winds will ever bring rains to Zimbabwe for a bumper harvest. Those countries have their own problems to solve.

The problem with Zimbabwe is that we have been using conservative policies for the benefit of the citizens but the globalisation whirlwinds have exposed us in that regard. Zimbabwe will never be the same! NICK MACHINGURA, Goromonzi

ANC behind tyranny

EDITOR – The ANC government in South Africa is full behind Robert Mugabe’s tyranny. For the past years this government has been propping up the Zanu (PF) dictatorship of President Robert Mugabe. During the time of Apartheid the ANC called for sanctions against the apartheid government. The Zanu (PF) regime in Zimbabwe is worse than the apartheid regime but the ANC supports them and oppose every move that sanctions be applied against Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans continue to face serious human rights abuses, poverty and deliberate starvation. Opponents are being murdered, beaten and tortured. Right now the MDC-T Treasurer has fled to South Africa. The situation in Zimbabwe is precarious. The so-called Government of National Unity has failed to work. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai should pull out.

I call upon Zimbabweans everywhere and friends of Zimbabwe to challenge the position of the ANC over Zimbabwe. The ANC must stop supporting Zanu (PF). The ANC must stop opposing any proposed sanctions against Zimbabwe in the UN

Security Council. The ANC must stop resuming deportation of Zimbabweans under the pretext that there is now political stability in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe must be free from Zanu (PF) terror. Innocent people continue to suffer. Millions of Zimbabweans are living in South Africa as second class citizens, facing the problems of discrimination, tribalism, xenophobia, violence and poverty. Where as some of South African leaders are looting from our mines and companies.

Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa, which South Africa goes on to determine who should rule. Zimbabweans, we should refuse such absurdity. Zimbabwe is an independent nation. And only citizen should determine who should rule. As for Zanu (PF) – it has been rejected by the people.

Zimbabweans should put aside whatever our differences and unite for democracy and change which is imperatively needed in our country. Now is the time to complete the change. Now is the time to rise up in courage and claim our country from thieves, dictators and their supporters wherever they are. COLLEN MAKUMBIROFA, Foundation of Reason & Justice

Zim media show the way

EDITOR – Frustrated with our political process, publishers reacted predictably. Masked in polar editorial by-lines, lay a more deep-rooted issue plaguing Zimbabwe. For some years, media owners had displayed an unhealthy disrespect for relevant and useful facts, less still rigorous analysis. In general, the media industry ignored businesses need for incisive reading that would transcend the damaging long-term effects of polarity. Constantly debating with each other, and questioning the position and methods of other publications only perpetuated the belief that our media is suspect and industry became directionless.

The media industry became dependant, almost entirely, on donor agencies, political parties and interest groups instead of investors, advertisers and the content they delivered. Naturally, subscription revenues hit an all time low as readers hardly paid for content. Now that Zimbabwe’s economic pulse has quickened, you and I, are demanding more and better. Media must prepare to dish this out.

To be sure, now it is the advertisers who must pay for this extravagance. Given our comparatively low subscription prices, advertisers must subsidize consumers far more than in recent years. At the very least, business readers deserve independent and reliable reading to support decision-making. Yet, we continue to show them smoke and mirrors. In fact, there are established practices for this.

Firstly, some publishers fudge circulations, to prove higher newspaper or magazine circulation numbers to their principals and advertisers. Others, bend the rules, bundle two publications together or break one into weekday and weekend editions achieving content discounting. As far as content is concerned, publishers declare facts soon as they get a whiff what rivals have access to. Further to that, there is, “invitation pricing”, for content and advertisers which makes papers cheaper than their resale value.

Typically this is achieved by providing editorial space for dialogue and diatribe. And when it comes to regulators, publishers choose not to participate in industry audit or research and yet most publications claim to be No. 1 in something or the other. There would be more, but you get the picture?

It is about time we grew up. The world over, methodologies for generating relevant, insightful and viable content useful for directing business decisions, informing viewers and or listeners are well established. Granted, these need to be adapted to Zimbabwe. How hard can it be, given that all current publishing is either left or right of the political divide?

Fortunately, increasingly, advertisers demand better returns on their investments. The Internet has spoilt them with clear audience profiling and lower CPMs (cost per thousand impressions). They too are beginning to question our smoke and mirrors. Moreover, how can an industry that is about honesty expect to thrive when it can’t be honest?

Zimbabwe faces far bigger challenges. Industry and commerce have become hotbeds of politics. Best and next practices are not being shared or analyzed to the benefit of the nation. Our regulators need to appreciate that allowing media firms room to grow will only improve the quality of information about our industry is available. Aside to that, the best and brightest minds of Zimbabwe do not see media as a worthwhile career. Surely, it is these wars which we must collectively fight. It’s time to grow up Zimbabwean media, move on and show the way! ANONYMOUS, by e-mail