DEAR EDITOR—I am a strong believer in freedom of speech and respect for individuals; but the latest crop of those who promote ‘freedom of speech’ leave me dumbfounded.
I took a look at some forums over the weekend and was shocked by the level of slander; badmouthing and foul language used, and I said, “Lord have mercy, if this is the kind of society we are becoming.”
Subjects ranged from the looks of politicians, their wives and the state of their health. There were also names of people, political leaders, who were said to have HIV and AIDS and those on anti-retroviral treatments. There were also discussions that criticised people because of their tribe—Ndebele or Shona. The exchanges were very caustic and divisive. No words were spared and the moderators did not seem to care about the level of abuse and ‘violence’ in the forums.
Excuse me if I am wrong; I thought forums were for discussing issues in a mature way and creating a healthy and vibrant society. Some of these forums have become places of ‘letting off steam,’ slander and foul-mouthing.
I have to say some of them are the latest single threat we have to peace in Zimbabwe. They promote tribalism, racism and bigotry. The ‘verbal violence’ is unprecedented and could easily translate into ‘physical violence’ and more political tension.
In Zimbabwe today, on every street corner, you find an internet café. It, therefore, means that even people back home are fed with all this hate, abusive, and divisive literature. Such forums could be fuelling tension here in the Diaspora; but they are also quickly infiltrating our societies back home. Who knows what the consequences will be in future?
I am from the old school where divisions along tribe were never an issue. I grew up with Marimbes, Nkalas, Nyatongas and Nkomos in Highfield township. Tribe was never an issue; even Joshua Nkomo had a house near ‘MaStones’ shopping area in the township, and so did Enos Nkala.
Even politics then had nothing to do with tribe. If it did, then George Nyandoro, James Chikerema and other Shona-speaking people would have joined Robert Mugabe’s Zanu party and not Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu. Enos Nkala, Herbert Chitepo and others joined Robert Mugabe to form Zanu in 1963. Actually Zanu was formed at Nkala’s house in the township. Nkomo, before his death, even admitted that “It’s never been about ethnicity.”
So today when we see the likes of Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube working together; and the Presidium reflective of the diversity of our country, we should marvel at the idea that we are one of those countries in Africa where tribes—that once were divided, and ruled, by imperialists—can work together in harmony.
We should not deliberately try to divide people by fuelling hatred and encouraging racist and divisive speech through these unmanaged forums and other cyberspaces.
Nomsa Moyo
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
