Maravi

(HERALD) Do not soil Zim for pieces of silver

Do not soil Zim for pieces of silver

THE outcry that followed the controversial ending of the reality TV show Big Brother Africa All Stars, and the subsequent euphoria that surrounded the initiative by Zimbabwean businessmen and ordinary people to mobilise resources to give Zimbabwean representative, Munyaradzi Chidzonga, a whopping US$300 000 is instructive, and should serve as a lesson to all who believe badmouthing their country is a meal-ticket.

Twenty-four-year-old Munya proved to be a true ambassador throughout his 91-day stay in the Big Brother Africa House where, at all times, he always had his National Flag handy and never missed an opportunity to give his fellow housemates, drawn from 14 African countries, the true picture of Zimbabwe.

And at a time some misguided elements believe lying about Zimbabwe, and trashing President Mugabe was the in-thing, Munya had no qualms lauding the President as his personal hero and expressing his life-long wish to meet him in person.

Munya’s exploits contrasted sharply with the escapades of one Gamuchirai Nhengu who participated in a reality show called, the X-Factor, in the UK who, upon being booted from the show and facing imminent deportation to Zimbabwe sought to prolong her stay in Britain by claiming that she would face death by firing squad upon arrival in Zimbabwe.

This ridiculous claim from a little-known teenager naturally drew the ire of Zimbabweans at home and abroad who put aside their political opinions to slap the wanton badmouthing of their motherland.

Suffice to say before Gamuchirai’s outburst, she had received the sympathy of many across the board who felt she had been unjustly dropped from the ITV show.

Today, the 18-year-old Gamuchirai faces deportation and has lost the support of her countrymen and women who called her bluff. Her opposite Big Brother number, Munya, is being feted wherever he goes for being true to himself and his country.

The contrasting fortunes of these two youngsters should serve as a lesson to us all. The blame-it-on-Mugabe syndrome does not wash anymore.

In fact we do not think it ever did because the British government only granted those who told tall tales of alleged Government torture and repression asylum to justify its attempted strangulation of Zimbabwe.

And now that the regime change project is in tatters, the “asylum seekers’’ are excess baggage which is why the British Home Office has resumed deportations to Zimbabwe.

The question to be asked is, was it worth it, soiling your country to earn the right to wash soiled British senior citizens?

We urge Zimbabweans eking a frugal, dehumanising existence in the colder climes to return home, tap into the various economic empowerment programmes on offer and help build their country.

The irony of it all is, while some misguided Zimbabweans resorted to lies to stay in Britain, the British hanged on to those lies because they wanted to return to Zimbabwe.

As Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley said, none but ourselves can free our minds. Let’s tell the truth about our country and its people to help undo the damage wrought by the West’s concerted propaganda campaigns that sought to portray our country in negative light.

Labels: GAMUCHIRAI NHENGU, MUNYARADZI CHIDZONGA, NEOCOLONIALISM, PROPAGANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:31 PM