Hoof—hoof—Pongo, keeps barking

By Cde. Brilliant Pongo

In today’s world of competing views and opinions, there is rarely such a thing as telling the whole truth. But you can tell your truth, and if that differs from the beliefs of others then the argument needs to be made on your truth’s behalf.

A Wiseman once said “Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river.”

We find ourselves as Zimbabweans today islanded between the split river(s) that of western media and the local media (government controlled) arguing as to who is telling the truth regarding Zimbabwe? And as such there are those who have chosen to believe the one and blame the other for spreading falsehoods.

The root causes and reasons given for the crisis in Zimbabwe are a perfect example for the views given by the west and those given by the Zimbabwean government are diametrically opposed yet each will claim to be telling the truth.

Most of our views and opinions of the problems afflicting Zimbabwe are shaped mainly by what we read and see in the media thus it is no doubt that the communication front has been used as the arena for battle to obtain the support of world public opinion.

As such the giants of the western media came out in full force against the government controlled media, years down the line the Zimbabwean government may appear down but they are certainly not out. They have managed like the biblical David to face up to the Media Goliath, telling and defending their truth.

I will be the first to admit that with age comes wisdom, I was one of those who got blown by the MDC wind of false change and did not at the time understand what an MDC government would do for Zimbabwe I was blind to the regime changed agenda at that time; influenced by my youthful desire to rebel and defy the status quo. I found myself at the forefront sloganeering shouting my lungs out (Chinja Chinja), 7 years down the line I have had a real change of heart.

I understand more clearly, now that the party that will empower the black Zimbabwean is not the MDC, I understand now more than I did then about the trickery of the west and their enticingly packaged neo-colonial economic development programmes and empty promises they give to the so-called developing world. Fact, these western governments who claim to help are no charities but businesses so what’s in it for them?

The MDC is not only opposed to Zimbabwe’s land reform program, they want to see a fast track privatisation of government parastatals and I hasten to say, the intended beneficiaries of such a program are not Zimbabweans, but foreign investors the British and the American after all they have invested so much in the MDC with the hope that they will reap the fruits of their regime change agenda.

Fact, an MDC government would never tolerate the pursuit in Zimbabwe of the protectionist and nationalist economic programs the US used to build its own industry. The MDC’ s goals, in the words of its leader, are to “encourage foreign investment” and “bring (Zimbabwe’s) abundant farmland back into health.” “It is up to each of us,” Tsvangirai told a gathering of newly elected MDC parliamentarians, “to say Zimbabwe is open for business.”

By open for business, my guess is he means up for grabs to those with the highest dollar.  If the ultimate goal for true independence is to have Zimbabweans achieve economic freedom, not simply the independence of having their own flag, but of owning their land and resources not just to be Zimbabwean by name/nationality then that’s not what the MDC is offering.

ZANU PF has argued that the reasons for the economic crisis have been at the instigation of the West mainly the UK and US, all this in retaliation to the steps taken by the same revolutionary party to further democratise the country by embarking on the land reform programme which has benefited over 300,000 previously landless families and by passing legislation formulated to mandate that majority ownership of the country’s mines and enterprises be placed in the hands of the indigenous black majority.

The fight is to empower Zimbabweans by keeping neo-colonialists at bay by defeating the regime change agenda. Those against the revolutionary party have dismissed these claims as statements from self-aggrandizing demagogues manipulating their followers with populist rhetoric to cling to power to enjoy its many perks however, the charge that the West is supporting civil society groups in Zimbabwe to bring down the government is not paranoid speculation or the demagogic raving of ZANU PF party trying to cling to power by mobilizing anti-imperialist sentiment. 

It’s a matter of public record (a fact!). Those who care to seek such records will find that the US government has admitted that “it wants to see President Robert Mugabe removed from power and that it is working with the Zimbabwean opposition…trade unions, pro-democracy groups and human rights organizations…to bring about a change of administration.” Say what you want if that is not regime change.

The MDC (T) has told us for years now that the western governments have imposed only targeted sanctions aimed at key members of the government, nothing to undermine the economy and hurt ordinary Zimbabweans, but such has been the very thinly veiled propaganda which is now proving to be not much of a cover.

Now that we learn that even the British members of parliament are admitting that the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are ruinous. Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the Conservative MP for Kensington and Chelsea called for the lifting of the sanctions saying the EU must respect the inclusive Government of Zimbabwe.

Those from the MDC (T) and the Rhodesian lobby may not like this move but it is worth noting that these said ruinous sanctions are not just a targeted travel ban on Mugabe and 106 (actually 203) senior ZANU PF members its way bigger than that indeed these said sanctions in addition to those imposed by the US Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act have far-reaching economic effects on  the country and have been evident for the majority of Zimbabweans on the ground to see (never mind the deniers in the Diaspora who elect to bury their heads deep in the sand or is it in the snow?)

The so-called western democracies tend to delude themselves that they are not in the business of propaganda however; the media onslaught on Zimbabwe and the imposition of illegal sanctions can only be described as a propaganda campaign, the current NATO definition of propaganda is “any information, ideas, doctrine or special appeals, disseminated to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes or behaviour of any specified group in order to benefit the sponsor, either directly or indirectly”.

Interestingly the western journalists and their media houses are happy to label that which is disseminated by the government run media as ZANU PF propaganda, however, the same westerners are nervous about having their work described as “propaganda” their work they would have us believe, is purely to communicate “factual information” and “ tell the truth”.

Demonising the enemy with falsehoods has its advantages however, they are short term all is cracking up now those who argued that there were no sanctions on Zimbabwe will now have to rethink their arguments vis-a-vis the crisis in Zimbabwe and thus revise their (truths).

Some MDC supporting Zimbabweans will think it criminal for me to revert back to ZANU PF, well shit happens its all politics, after all, people fall in love — get married —fall out of love— divorce, if that is not a crime why should this be?  So for those troubled by this just look at it as a divorce (ndairamba MDC) sorry kanazvakurwadza Matsanga Tsikamutanda or is it Tutankhamen? No point acting like a jilted lover. (hoof—hoof—Pongo, keeps barking).

Brilliant Pongo is a Zimbabwean media studies researcher studying in the UK. He can be contacted at [email protected]