(HERALD) Media must tell Britain to resolve land impasse

Media must tell Britain to resolve land impasse

EDITOR — Going through news items on Zimbabwe, one cannot help but feel very sad, especially when one realises that a pottage of soup can easily erode the gains of our struggle for independence. Twenty-eight years down the line, I actually wonder where all the revolutionaries have gone. As Zimbabwe consolidates the gains of the liberation struggle, where are the revolutionaries who will carry the mantra of the struggle to infinity?

Has revolution been made a dirty word by the Western mindset with their claims of creating a circle of freedom, even among diametrically opposed people? Will Zimbabwe be traded for buzzwords such as "new", "change", "democracy", "rule of law", "transparency"?

As the battle for Zimbabwe continues, a battle which started in 1890 when British colonialists set foot on our soil, and not only claimed our land as their own, but went on to pillage and plunder it, it is interesting to note that it is in the

media especially that this battle is being fought.

However, it is also saddening to note that some of the media have not only succeeded in polarising our society, but they have also managed to divert attention to the heart of the Zimbabwean matter: the reclamation of or land which the Zimbabwean Government did through the land reform programme.

The Bible says: "My people perish for lack of knowledge". Australian-born A.B. Facey’s book "A Fortunate Life" is an eye-opener on land reform in Australia in the early 20th century, something that many, especially Zimbabweans in Australia should know about.

It is, therefore, folly that the only people the media always call upon to talk to the Zimbabwean Government is either President Mbeki, the Sadc or the African Union.

The same media were, however, only too happy in March to celebrate Heidi Holland’s just published book, "Dinner with Mugabe", when, in fact, Holland makes reference to the land issue and Clare Short’s damning letter where the Blair government reneged on its responsibility on the land issue.

This same media are not only willing to condemn the illegal sanctions that are strangling people’s lives, and they do not seem to be in a hurry to call for dialogue between Harare and London to resolve this impasse.

It is common knowledge that the media is a trendsetter and it can influence policy for the betterment of the Zimbabwean people.

It is at a time like this that it should rise to the occasion and start telling London that it has some unfinished business in Zimbabwe.

For, we can say it in whatever way we say it, even belittling it, but LAND is central issue in this saga.

Tirondi Tambwera.
Harare.