DURING a working visit in New York in 2012, a hotel attendant asked me a question which revealed the might of the anti-Zimbabwe Western sponsored propaganda.
“Is there tap water in Africa,” asked the concerned brother.
Africa to him, like many exposed to Western propaganda about Africa, is a single country yet to taste the sweetness of civilisation.
Yet there was nothing wrong with that question.
But what was wrong was the revelation last week by the country’s senior national soccer team, the Warriors, manager Wellington Mpandare that it has been difficult to lure the many of the youngsters based in England since ‘it appears most of the players are afraid to come to Zimbabwe in fear of the unknown’.
Mpandare last week told Star FM that interim Warriors coach Norman Mapeza had set his sights on bringing the Diaspora generation of Tendai Darikwa, lower league stars Marcauley Bonne, Kundai Benyu, Tristan Naydan and Leicester Under 18 star Tinashe to the squad.
According to Mpandare, Darikwa’s call-up hit a brick wall as the player needed assurance that rumours about Zimbabwe’s backwardness is not true.
The player is reportedly to have asked whether Zimbabwe had hotels.
It would appear the player has a negative perspective of Zimbabwe.
Whether Mpandare was telling the truth or not is a story for another day, but what is alarming is the level of ignorance by Darikwa about Zimbabwe.
Such is the mentality of those in the Diaspora that to them, Zimbabwe is now an Iron Age country where people sleep in the jungle.
That mentality is fed partially by Western propaganda, but mainly by resentment of one’s country.
The blame lies with parents of those born in the Diaspora.
First it is the circumstances from which they got papers to find ‘refuge’ in England, Australia, America or wherever they are.
They used the anti-President Robert Mugabe card to acquire asylum in those countries, but the fact that they abandoned their duty to serve their country surely must never permeate to their children.
The alleged persecution they ran away from, their ticket to their prolonged stay in the Diaspora is nothing but a malice driven myth.
What emerges from the Darikwa fiasco is that we have not done much as a country to debunk the myths created by the Western media about Zimbabwe as a country and Africa as a continent.
This brings us to the recently held former liberation movements meeting in Angola where it was resolved that the political parties in Southern Africa come up with solid and sophisticated strategies to counter the relentless Western propaganda.
This should be understood from Mpandare’s sensational claims that it appears the parents are influencing their children not to come to Zimbabwe in order to protect their asylum claims.
The ruling former liberation movements in Southern Africa include ZANU PF, the African National Congress (ANC) (South Africa), FRELIMO (Mozambique), Swapo (Namibia), MPLA (Angola) and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Tanzania).
In Angola so serious were the deliberations that the former liberation movements came up with proposals that that they should all establish radio stations and newspapers that will inculcate a revolutionary ideology among the populace.
Below are part of the resolutions made in the Angola gathering:
l That former liberation movements institute tough disciplinary measures along with strong ideological grounding under the auspices of political party ideological schools and national youth service.
l That former liberation movements should apply innovative media and information strategies which make full use of available technological advancements.
l That former liberation movements should institute measures to eliminate the use of money or other material enticements in influencing outcomes of internal electoral processes.
l That former liberation movements carry out focused political orientation programmes targeting youths — both members and non-members — to inculcate correct ideologies and a sense of belonging.
l That former liberation movements create ways and mechanisms to share ideas with each other.
The meeting also recommended:
l That former liberation movements establish daily newspapers, radio stations and establish a meaningful presence on the Internet.
l That former liberation movements should study new weather patterns in order to align with agricultural seasons.
l That former liberation movements should institute joint and individual measures to eliminate corruption.
l That former liberation movements should hold workshops to share experiences, strategies on sustainable economic growth and improve our countries.”
There is no doubt that the battle confronting liberation movements in Southern Africa revolves around a quest by the West to install puppet governments in the region.
The ANC in South Africa is under pressure from a marauding Western-founded and funded opposition seeking to negate the gains of the liberation struggle.
What is happening in South Africa is not President Jacob Zuma’s battle alone, it is a fight against former imperialists.
This is why people like Darikwa must never insult the country by asking silly questions about hotels and painting the image of a dead country.
Zimbabwe is very much alive and doing well economically.
Our agriculture is finding its feet.
Our infrastructure is ready for a fresh breath of life.
Let those with ears listen.