Maravi

Exaggerations and understatements

Exaggerations and understatements
By Editor
Sunday August 19, 2007 [04:00]

IT is true that the problems in Zimbabwe are "sometimes over exaggerated".
It is equally true that the problems in Zimbabwe are sometimes understated. Both these positions are not good; problems shouldn't be exaggerated or understated. Problems should be reported accurately and fairly. This is important because it is easy to deal with a problem whose magnitude is accurately stated.

To begin with, the attitude - that is to say, the seriousness of purpose - of any organisation is measured, basically, by the attitude it takes towards its own problems. And in the same way, our seriousness of purpose as members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will be measured by the attitude we take towards our own problems. And similarly, the seriousness of purpose of the political leadership of Zimbabwe as revolutionists and as members of that country's government will be measured by the attitude they take towards the problems of their country and their own errors.

Of course, the enemies are always alert to know what those errors are. When errors are made, when problems arise and are subjected to self-criticism, enemies take advantage of them. When those errors are made and are subjected to self-criticism, when problems or failures are acknowledged, they may be used by the enemy, but in a very different way.

This is so because in the former case, our problems and errors would not be resolved and corrected but in the latter they would be. This is why it is necessary to take a forthright and serious attitude towards our own problems and errors. There is need for serious analysis, honest analysis, a deep analysis of the Zimbabwean economic and political situation. There is need to analyse all that has been done, the good things that have been done and also the errors that have been made and the problems that have been created.
It therefore doesn't pay to exaggerate or overstate the problems in Zimbabwe.

It equally doesn't help anyone to understate or play down the problems in that country. There is need for honesty in all that is being done to get that country out of its problems.
It is folly to pretend the problems in Zimbabwe are not big, are not serious. The problems in Zimbabwe are big and serious. They are not only about a shortage of foreign exchange. They are much more about a drop in the living conditions of the Zimbabwean people, especially the workers and the poor whose access to basic services that the government used to provide in abundance has seriously diminished. Even nutrition standards for the great majority of the Zimbabwean people has dropped.

It can also not be denied that the political cohesion in that country has weakened. There is more dissention in that country today than has probably been since independence, since the Matebeleland rebellion. This is why SADC requested South African President Thabo Mbeki to intervene and reconcile all the political forces in that country. And this is also why SADC instructed its secretary general to undertake a visit to Zimbabwe and study the situation and establish the nature of what the economic hardships were and propose solutions.

This is in itself an acknowledgement that all is not as it should be in Zimbabwe. And there is no need to pretend that things are okay or are not that bad. They are bad. We can discourse on and on, on what has caused the Zimbabwean political and economic crisis. But the nature and extent of this political and economic crisis doesn't need much disquisition because it is there for all to see; it has become common knowledge.

What is important now is how SADC goes about trying to resolve Zimbabwe's problems and how the Zimbabwean political leaders themselves try to correct their own errors. An admission of problems in Zimbabwe will help SADC mobilise international support for that country.

It will be difficult for SADC to go round the world seeking assistance for Zimbabwe while at the same time telling the world that the problems in that country are exaggerated, they are not as big or as serious as they are being portrayed. Zimbabwe needs help, a lot of help to stabilise its economy and to forge an acceptable level of national unity.

A country beset by so many problems cannot be expected to solve all its problems by itself. A country that has been so much weakened cannot be expected to have meaningful bilateral negotiations with other countries or institutions. It needs the assistance of SADC to negotiate on its behalf and restore its credit lines and other facilities. But SADC can only negotiate on behalf of Zimbabwe; can only assist Zimbabwe meaningfully if it comes to terms with the difficulties and challenges this sister nation is today facing. Problems and difficulties only become solvable when they are tangible realities for all to see.

We therefore urge President Levy Mwanawasa, who is now SADC chairman, to take a forthright attitude towards the problems of Zimbabwe, which can truly be said to be problems of our region and acknowledge the difficult challenges facing this country. Yes, the problems of Zimbabwe cannot be solved through the press as President Mwanawasa says. But they will also not be solved by secret deals among our leaders; there is need for the involvement of all political forces in and outside that country and this can only be done successfully in an honest and transparent manner.

The press might have, or may be playing, a negative role in that country. But it is an important player in the attempt to solve the problems of Zimbabwe. It would therefore be prudent to engage the press in a positive way, in a manner that will help it contribute to the solving of that country's problems. There is no need for exclusions; all must be included in SADC's attempt to solve Zimbabwe's problems.

Labels: EDITORIAL, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:46 AM