The media and violence in Zimbabwe

DEAR EDITOR―I will use the words of my dear fellow African, Toyin Agbetu, who was stopped by security as he disrupted the service marking the bicentenary of the 1807 act to abolish the slave trade, and adapt his opinion to the Zimbabwean situation. Let us consider the violence in Zimbabwe and how certain sections of the media are reporting it.

As the western media focuses on the rejection of its beloved democracy the lost lives of the innocent are turned into political collateral for media rhetoric on governance.

The western world and Zimbabwean blogosphere has gone into a frenzy reporting on the recent violence carried out against innocent Africans in Zimbabwe. It is widely reported that over thirty people were killed in Zimbabwe and many others are victims of political violence today.

The iconistic manner in which the crime has been reported bears the hallmarks of a blockbuster hollywood film in the making ― the scared women and children, the divine Christian church, a new years day massacre and the marauding mob of Africans seeking to torture and kill along ‘political’ lines in ‘dark’ Zimbabwe.

The only problem with this is that the events were real and this sensationalist embellishment on the truth disrespects the victims. It was real human beings that died not actors and extras covered in plasma gel simulating fake blood. It is imperative that the perpetrators of this crime are hunted down and brought to justice, and the Zimbabwean government said it will do so.

Yet the British media institutions have chosen to ignore the humanitarian element of this story and instead focus on the political by repeatedly asking the patronisingly racist question of whether Zimbabweans are ready for ‘democracy’. The BBC even goes as far as asking what the implications are for the ‘new Zimbabwe’ whilst a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown rambles on about interventionist action by Britain.

It is not my assertion that the political roots and ramifications of this and other related outbreaks of violence remain unaddressed. It is possible to do both, simultaneously and with respect and compassion. If I were the head of an international media conglomerate I would have already secured the identities of the victims and on behalf of Zimbabwean people globally shamed the perpetrators to put aside their petty differences and protect the innocent Zimbabweans at risk.

Leaders ousted by the agents of the west such as Nkrumah, Sankara and Lumumba knew that the safety of people should always come before the immoral profit generated by greedy politicians holding elections to hold onto power and appease their masters.

In the meanwhile, Britain continues to pontificate on the need to install a mythical version of democracy that it hasn’t even implemented itself. Democracy has never fed or delivered equality to the impoverished African communities living in the UK and America let alone across the Continent.

The callous self centred nature of Britain’s mercenary national press meant that it missed an opportunity to bypass Zimbabwe’s media whiteout and use their global resources to empathise with the universal humanitarian core at the centre of most Africans in and around the region. If it had done this it could have helped others embolden the people themselves who will risk all to promote leadership from whoever proves best able to bring peace, security and prosperity to the nation.

I believe that in any such tragedy where it is feasible to do so, the names and where possible the pictures of the innocents should be afforded as much prominence as that of the perpetrators.

Without the names of those lost being published the recent tragedy remains a reminder of how African lives are not afforded the human dignity of nobility even in death. Life should never be written about as if cheap.

Masimba Musengezi

London

[Opinion based on Toyin Agbetu’s ideas]